What was the Purpose of the Concentration Camps near Berlin?
World War II had infamous concentration camps around Berlin. They were utilized by the Nazi regime during the World War II, and were used to incarcerate and carry out systematic genocide of unwanted millions. Such camps have had a black and important place of history and in order to appreciate how deep human suffering was during this period, it is important to understand the role of such camps at least in part.
Berlin Concentration camps origin.
The first Concentration Camps were opened shortly after the assuming power by Adolf Hitler in 1933. Originally, they had been created to hold political enemies, dissidents, and any person perceived as a danger to the Nazi regime. The main objective was to put out any form of opposition and acquire more power.
There was a major concentration camp not far away from Berlin, that of Sachsenhausen, in Oranienburg. It became a prototype for future camps and was run by the SS, the paramilitary arm of the Nazis that ensured control of the innermost circles of the camp system.
The Purpose and the brutality of concentration camps
There was an evolution of concentration camps functions. They became terror instruments and served a variety of purposes.
- Enforced Labor: Inmates were subjected to exhausting forced labour that at times helped the Nazi war efforts. They were utilized as a cheap labor for the numerous industries such as factories and Berlin construction works.
- Extermination: With the passage of the time the concentration camps evolved into death camps, and mass butchery was done in an industrial manner. Millions, including Jews, Romani people, homosexuals, disabled people, and political dissenters, were systematically killed in gas chambers, through shooting, or some other hideous methods.
- Experimentation: Medical experiment was carried on inmates without their consent and regard to their welfare. These experiments were to be carried out in order to further the whims of a perverse ideology preached by the Nazis.
The Legacy of the Concentration Camps close to Berlin
The concentration camps are an unfortunate reminder of what happened during the war. The visits of the memorial sites and museums can make one reflect on the horrible things that have been done in the past, and commemorate the victims.
It is important to remember what took place in the concentration camps in order to avoid their recurrence. It is a reminder of why one must stand against hatred, discrimination and the violation of human rights.
Some suggestions on how to deal with visiting concentration camp memorials.
- Plan your visit ahead, and make sure that you take time to tour the site and its exhibits.
- Reverence the reverent environment by acting formally and not taking inappropirate photographs.
- Make use of guided tours or audio guides, it will give you an insight into the history and value of the place.
- Be respectful, pay homage to the victims by having a moment of silence or laying flowers depending on the situation.
- Reflect on yourself and think of the historical context so as to understand better the events that occurred.
Conclusion
The concentration camps near Berlin were tools of terror and were meant for the purpose of imprisonment, enslavement, and extermination of millions of people. Learning about their history is crucial to humanity if ever it is to learn from its most horrible moments and endeavor for a world where such atrocities are not committed.
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