Visiting the concentration camps is important in remembering and recognizing the victims of Holocaust. Some concentration camps of World War II set in the area of Berlin, the capital of Germany, are worth visiting, as they offer a sobering look at vilest crimes committed during the XX war. Here, in this article we will talk about why you need to visit Berlin concentration camps and some tips to the most of your visit of Berlin concentration camps.
The Historical Significance of Berlin Concentration Camps
Berlin was a center of concentration camps, where thousands of innocent people suffered and died under unimaginable sorrow during the Nazi regime. Auchwitz is not in Berlin but is included on many tours due its historical importance, and is one of the most infamous camps.
1. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
It was one of the first concentration camps for the Nazis, and Sachsenhausen is in close proximity to Berlin. Sachsenhausen is a worthwhile visit – to learn of this camp’s dark history and the daily lives of the prisoners. Now, it is a memorial and museum where people can learn what happened to its inmates.
A guided tour in Sachenhausen is a must if you’re going to visit the camp. Both sections of the camp will be shown with the prisoner barracks, the execution trench and the punishment cells.
2. Ravensbrück Concentration Camp
The largest concentration camp for women of the Nazi era was Ravensbrück, which was also located near Berlin. It is an opportunity to learn about female prisoners and the particular challenges they faced and the massive strength they showed in the face of adversity while in Ravensbrück.
Explore Ravensbrück and although you will see the buildings, take some time to visit the museum, with personal stories, artifacts and photographs of the victims. The experiences of these women can be used as an opportunity to reflect and foster an empathic and understanding view.
3. How to Prepare for Your Visit
It is advisable to mentally prepare before you land for your visit. Concentration camps are solemn places; one must be respectful and reverential when approaching them. The trick is to prepare by these few tips:
- Get familiar with the history: Learn the history of the Camp that you will visit. This will allow you to know what and background to understand when you go for the visit.
- Clothes: it is recommended to wear modesty clothes and comfortable shoes when you visit concentration camps because you may need to walk a lot.
- Bring water and snacks: The visitors should take water and snacks, especially if they intend to stay longer at the memorial sites.
- Respectful: Concentration camps are places of respect, which means it’s necessary to be respectful. Don’t let yourself get dragged into unnecessary noise nor do any disrespectful selfies or whatever.
4. Reflecting on the Experience
Going to a concentration camp is emotionally overwhelming. Reflect over what you have seen and learned. Acting only until you heal completely should be encouraged and inspired by you sharing it with others, or keeping a journal. The visit can be reflected upon in order to remind oneself how standing against hatred and promoting tolerance is important.
Conclusion
A visit to Berlin concentration camps is a powerful and a necessary opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. To bear witness to these sites in the present is both to honour the past and to envision a more just, more compassionate, future. Come to the visit with a certain solemnity and respect, with the visit itself being a point of learning, reflection and of spreading the principles of peace.
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