Closing the topic of historical concentration camps, it is high time to turn to the Concentration Camp Berlin and discuss its background and development. It is painful to talk or read about the events this topic touches on, however, it is something that should never be forgotten or understudied part of the humanity. In this article, the author will consider the following question: What is the ultimate goal of the concentration camp, in what conditions was created and what has been the result?
1. What were Concentration Camps?
Concentration camps have been a severe phenomena in the World War II and a Holocaust. These were concentration and death camps created by the Nazi government in Germany to imprison, mistreat and execute millions of people, with focus on the Jews as well as political prisoners, Gypsies and other minority persons. The intention was to gain control, create fear and put into practice the policy of the supremacy of the Aryan race as per Hitler.
1.1 Purpose of Concentration Camps
The principal use of concentration camps was in detention of people who it was deemed by the Nazis as undesirable or as a threat to their government. These camps were used to maintain fear and control to those people who refused to surrender to their political rule. On a larger scale, it intended to annihilate entire people and concentration camps were an essential part of this process.
1.2 Conditions in Concentration Camps
The living conditions of the prisoners in concentration camps were well unimaginable. They were confined in old dilapidating barracks with no adequate food and clothing, and were not provided proper medical attention. They were exposed to physical and psychological abuse, forced labor, and even worst cruel behaviors from the camps’ guards. They faced poor and inadequate nutrition, sicknesses, and executions were common among the prisoners. Internment camps were clearly concentration centers of human suffering and orchestrated much pain on survivors.
2. Concentration Camps in Berlin
Concentration camps were established throughout Germany, although, because it was the capital of Nazi Germany, it is assumed that some of initial concentration camps were created in Berlin too. Of these extermination and concentration camps two of the most important ones were Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück, situated in the region near Berlin.
2.1 Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
The first one that I examined is Sachsenhausen which is located near Berlin. SS officers were trained in this camp and other camps were built based on the model of this camp. In this prison many political prisoners, intellectuals and homosexuals were detained. It is reported that many thousands fatally succumbed to exhaustion, medical experimentation, or outright gassing or shooting.
2.2 Ravensbrück Concentration Camp
Ravensbrück was specifically a women’s camp situated around 90 kilometers north of Berlin. It confined woman inmates who were political opponents, rebels and Jews. All sorts of inhuman treatments such as experiments on individuals, forced labor, and execution were also suffered here. The worst of the camp was brought to light after the camp was liberated by the Soviet troops in 1945.
3. Aftermath and Remembrance
Earlier, once Hitler’s Germany was defeated during the Second World War, the concentration camps were liberated. The discovery of the horrors revealed a stronger and much more effective Negro mobile Holocaust than was previously believed. The societies of the survivors and their families as well as the international community have, however, continued to fight to ensure that the victims are remembered and similar incidents are not repeated again in future.
3.1 Remembering the Victims
In order to commemorate the dead and remember the atrocities of the concentration camps, several memorials, museums and exhibitions have been put up. Two such places where people can go to understand this genocide and honor victims are the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin and the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum.
3.2 Importance of Education
People and future generations must be informed about the existence of Holocaust and concentration camps in order to avoid such occurrences in the future. From the above examples, they have gained knowledge in the events that took place in the past so that they would not reoccur in the future. It enables its followers to appreciate the value of tolerance, cultural differences as well as to promote justice amidst the increased instances of hatred in the society.
4. Conclusion
The concentration camp in Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück are examples of some of the concentration camps in Berlin that are associated with some of the heartless brutality ever to happen in the world. They must remain as a reminder of the worst and darkest side of people and the result of hatred and intolerance. In honouring the memory of the victims and through learning about the tragedy that befell them, one can cultivate a sense of empathy an inclusiveness in society.
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