Berlin: Sachsenhausen Memorial Guided Walking Tour

Embark on a profound journey to the Sachsenhausen Memorial, where you'll delve into a somber yet crucial chapter of Germany's history. The SS began construction of this camp in 1936, initially intended to detain all opposition to the Nazi regime. However, it soon expanded to imprison anyone the NSDAP deemed a threat to their ideology. Your experience begins in Berlin, where you’ll meet your guide and take a short train ride to Oranienburg, just 35 minutes from the city. From there, a 25-minute stroll will lead you to the Sachsenhausen Memorial Site. Your guided tour starts at the Camp Administration Center, now an on-site museum. This building once served as the headquarters for overseeing the Third Reich’s 32 main camps and over 1,000 satellite camps. As you explore the site, your guide will provide insights into the harsh conditions within the camp, recount the harrowing 'Death March' that preceded the camp’s liberation in 1945, and explain how the camp was later repurposed by the Soviets. Throughout the tour, you’ll hear powerful stories of resistance: Jewish prisoners’ revolt in 1942, defiance by British POWs, and acts of sabotage by Soviet and Polish prisoners. You'll also learn about the various prisoner groups, their tragic fates, and notable individuals who were imprisoned here, including Stalin’s son. After the tour, your guide will accompany you back to Berlin’s city center. Sites that will be visited during the tour include: • Camp Administration Center (formerly the Concentration Camps Inspectorate) • Station Z (site of mass murder) • Watchtower • Commandant's House • Jewish Barracks • Punishment Cells • Pathology Laboratory • Infirmary (sites of experimentation) • Special Camp 1/7 (learn about how the Soviets used Sachsenhausen after WW2) • SS Training Camp • Gallows This tour offers a poignant and educational experience, shedding light on the brutal realities of the past and the resilience of those who endured it.