Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp (KZ Sachsenhausen) is located about 35 kilometers north of Berlin in Oranienburg, established by the Nazis in 1936. Originally, it served as a “model camp” for training SS personnel in concentration camp management. During World War II, over 200,000 people were imprisoned here, with at least tens of thousands dying.
In 1945, the camp was liberated by the Soviet Red Army, and after the war, it was used by the Soviets as a “special detention camp” until it closed in 1950. Today, Sachsenhausen has become a memorial and historical education site, preserving the cell block (Zellenbau), remnants of barracks, execution sites, and monuments, reminding the world to reflect on totalitarianism and human rights issues.

👉 Official website: Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum

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Recommended Visiting Experience Route

• Tower A → Entrance to the camp, overlooking the entire layout of the concentration camp.
• Prisoner Barracks → Displays daily living spaces, beds, and rudimentary facilities.
• Cell Block (The Cell / Zellenbau) → Cases of solitary confinement and political prisoners.
• Execution Site and Crematorium → Commemorating the victims who perished here.
• Soviet Memorial → Anti-fascist memorial architecture established during the Cold War by East Germany and the Soviet Union.

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Spatial Atmosphere

A vast and silent area, imbued with a gray and cold atmosphere.
Walking through the camp, one can feel the desolation of the architectural remnants and the weight of history, which is starkly different from typical tourist attractions.
⚠️ A small reminder: The site is really large, and walking can be a bit strenuous, so it’s advisable to assess your stamina before planning your time.

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Key Stories

• Cell Block: Dutch resistance members were imprisoned here in 1942 and executed the next day.
• Infirmary: Prisoners were forced to undergo medical experiments or continued torture under the guise of “treatment.”
• Satellite Camps: Over a hundred sub-camps where prisoners were forced to work for the military-industrial complex and German companies.
• Soviet Period: From 1945 to 1950, the camp was used by the Soviets as a detention camp, and this history is now also publicly acknowledged.

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Personal Reflection

Walking through the cell block, I particularly felt the atmosphere of isolation and oppression, but what I was most concerned about was where the prisoners went to the bathroom. I asked GPT, and it said they used urinals that couldn’t be emptied daily. I can’t imagine how terrifying life in the cells was, which inevitably leads one to reflect on the value of freedom and human rights.

The audio guide’s explanation is super long, but there are also many explanations in the exhibition halls, so it’s not necessary to have the audio guide. If you’re not particularly interested in this part of history, you can skip the audio guide. Many students come here for field trips, and if you speak German, you might be able to follow along with a group for explanations.

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Day Trip Tips for the Berlin Suburbs

• There are many RE or S-Bahn trains from Berlin to Oranienburg. However, after arriving in Oranienburg, you need to transfer to a bus to reach the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum. It took us about 1.5 hours to get there from Potsdam Platz.
• There are buses available outside the station to reach the memorial, and it is also about a 30-minute walk. The street scenery along the way is quite different from Berlin, which is worth seeing, but it’s advisable not to walk since the concentration camp is very large.
• It is recommended to allocate half a day to a full day for the visit. Be sure to check the return train schedule, as there is only one train every hour.
• Free admission (the audio guide costs an additional €3.5, and you may encounter situations where card machines do not work, requiring cash payment).

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