If you were to ever visit Berlin, a place of history and remnants of the Holocaust, you would most likely find it beneficial to know more about their history. Instead, you could visit a concentration camp in the area of Berlin. With that said, it would be an excellent idea if you read this blog post so that we can discuss some useful information and best tips before you visit.
1. Which concentration camp do you choose to go to visit?
Oder, about 35 kilometers north west of Berlin, is Sachsenhausen, the most well known of the concentration camps, which is situated between Oranienburg. Sachsenhausen was one of the earlier Nazi camps that played an important role during World War II. Now it is a sober and educational place, a memorial and museum.
1.1. What is the best route of getting to Sachsenhausen from Berlin?
Sachsenhausen is only barely accessible by train from Berlin, a S1 S-Bahn or a regional train from Friedrichstraße or Berlin Hauptbahnhof. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes. When you get to Oranienburg the camp is a short walk from.
1.2. What are the hours of opening and prices of entrance?
During the summer months of April to October, the Sachenhausen is open daily from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM; and from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM during the winter months of November to March. The memorial site is free to enter, but guided tours are charged for a small fee. In our opinion, visiting a guided tour is highly recommended if you wish to learn more about the camp’s history.
2. What should you experience at the palace?
Visiting Sachsenhausen can be an emotionally charged experience, and there is quite a powerful opportunity to let it happen and think upon the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust. You’ll be able to amble around the grounds, view exhibits and walk around the various memorials on this site. Information that the museum offers is comprehensive of the history of the camp, the daily life for prisoners as well as the effects of the whole Holocaust.
2.1. When do you need to allot time for the visit?
You can see the bulk of the camps main areas in a couple of hours but we recommend spending yourself half a day so that you can truly experience it. You will have some time to spend with a guided tour around here, visit the museum then think about how historic the place really is.
2.2. What items to take and what clothes to wear.
While visiting Sachsenhausen it’s advisable to dress and behave appropriately. They won’t require comfortable shoes, as your walking will be a fair amount. Additionally, some water and snacks are a good idea as refreshment within the site is sparse.
3. What once was seen as a bit patronizing or elitist here is rapidly becoming a micro trend of its own.
If you intend to visit the concentration camp near Berlin, here are a few tips to make your visit as profitable as possible:
- Go early in the day so you will not have crowds to deal with.
- To get insights from the knowledgeable guides, consider joining guided tour.
- Read thoroughly the information panels and exhibits about the camp for a better understanding of its history.
- Mindfulness of the site’s rules and building guidelines since it is a site of remembrance and reflection.
- Spend time in silence as a way to commemorate and remember the victims.
4. Processing emotions after your visit
A visit to a concentration camp can be an emotional affair. If you or a fellow visitor needs support, do not hesitate to seek it. Some of these support services are available on the site and some surrounding area.
The point is to visit a concentration camp to honour the victims, to learn from them and to stop such atrocities repeating. Practicing an open mind, learning to make better future in practicing an open mind to learn from history, paying our respects and learning from history are some ways in which we can play a role in making a better future.
A visit to a concentration camp near Berlin can only be planned with sensitivity and respect. It can be a huge transformational experience and the time to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for that. With knowledge of past, we can make contribution to a more compassionate and intersectional world to come.
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