Should you decide to visit Berlin and have a desire to learn how the war was waged there, there are several concentration camps just outside of the city. These sites act as realities of what people faced during World War II and should be useful to honour those who lost their lives. In this article, we will take a look to certain concentration camps in Berlin that could be seen and learnt from.
The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp which was founded by the Nazis started early in 1936 in Oranienburg, a few miles outside Berlin. It was an archetype of other camps though it was mainly for political inmates. During your tour of Sachsenhausen you can also see some areas of it such as punishment cells, execution trench and Jewish Barracks. There are audio-tours around the camp and audio-tours that have description about the history of the camp and the treatment that was meted on prisoners.
Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen
There is also on-site display about the camp and Nazi Germany in the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen. It shows photo and video footage along with interviewee accounts that offer insights into the situation in the prisons. It also has extensive outdoor area; such as, construction of some of the original buildings, and a replica of the wire to give an opportunity for an overall impression of how big the camp was.
Ravensbrück is the concentration camp for women.
Ravensbrück – was one of the gravest camps situated 56m north of Berlin and one of the largest camps specifically for women . Established in 1939 it is incarceration that confined more than 130 000 female inmates from different nations. Visiting Ravensbrück give understanding on how it was to be a female inmate and how they survive the depravity of this world during this era.
Ravensbrück Memorial
The Ravensbrück Memorial is designed for talking about the sufferings of people who were incarcerated in the camp. It has a section of its eclectic displays that provides historical reports on the women who were incarcerated in the facility. The memorial also constitutes of the reconstructed barrack, the tower, and the crematorium. Monitored tours are provided so that people can get more information about the history of the camp as well as the lives of prisoners.
Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück: Some useful tips for tourists or just for passing travelers
Visiting the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp in one day is ideal because both of them are about 80 miles apart.
Getting There
If you want to get to Sachsenhausen, there is a suburban railway, S-Bahn, to Oranienburg where the camp is located: it will take twenty minutes to walk or you can take a bus. To reach the Ravensbrück concentration camp memorial, tourists need to take a regional train to Fürstenberg (Havel) and then to go by bus or take a taxi.
Opening Hours and Admission
The Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum are open daily from 8:Monday to Saturday from 30 am to 6 pm: the entrance is free but donations are welcome. The Ravensbrück Memorial is open April-October Tuesday-Sunday 9am to 6pm. November to march : the museum is open on weekends only from 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon In terms of price policy, admission to the museum is free of charge However, one could book for guided tour at a charges a fee.
Visitor Etiquette
When arranging a visit to these places people should remember that they are visiting the places where many people lost their lives. Be neat, avoid compromising dressing codes and also observe your conduct carefully. Limit loud talking and refrain from any behavior that may be prohibited by the memorial staff.
Further Resources
For further information on the history of concentration camps in Berlin, you can read many books, watch documentaries and use the Internet. The Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück memorials also have additional information and further reading available on their websites which would also be beneficial to read before a visit.
Conclusion
Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück concentration camps in Berlin can be visited to pay the victims of Holocaust a homage. It is an opportunity to give visitors an insight of what went down during the second world war and for them to embrace tolerance and respect in the society. The best way to put effort in the future is to honor the ones who perished in the past and not let such occurrences happened again in the future.
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