Between 1936 and 1945, more than 200,000 people were imprisoned in Sachsenhausen concentration camp, a key site in the Nazi machinery of terror. Established under Heinrich Himmler, the camp was designed as a model of absolute control and dehumanization. Initially used for political opponents, it soon expanded to include those persecuted for their ethnicity, religion, or sexuality.
Accompanied by an expert guide, you will explore this sobering memorial, including the barracks, infirmary, punishment cells, execution grounds, and gas chamber. Through individual stories, you will discover the human dimension of those who suffered here, from Stalin’s son to Georg Elser. Today, Sachsenhausen stands as a place of necessary reflection on the realities of the past and Germany’s ongoing commitment to historical memory.
Itinerary:
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Meeting point: Square next to the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears).
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S-Bahn Oranienburg: A walk through the town to understand its collaboration with the Nazi regime.
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Former SS villas: Built by inmates and inhabited by high-ranking Nazi officials.
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Concentration Camp Inspectorate: The central administrative authority for the entire camp system.
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Appellplatz (Roll call area): Where prisoners were forced to assemble for hours in all weather.
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Old Jewish barracks: Learning about everyday life and survival under SS brutality.
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Prison cells: Where inmates faced punishment and Gestapo special prisoners were held.
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Boot testing track: Slave labor used for testing military equipment.
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Station Z and Gas chamber: Terrible testaments to systematic mass murder and executions.
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Infirmary and Pathology center: Sites of horrific medical experimentation and forced autopsies.
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Camp kitchen: A central part of the camp’s internal infrastructure.