Germany concentration camps are painful evidence of what possibly could be the worst chapter in the record of humanity. It doesn’t only mean a tourism act as well as an actual visit to these places to experience them as a part of evolution to enshrine the lives of millions, reconsidering hate crimes and to learn about and pass on knowledge to following generations. In this particular blog post, we will take you through the past and present role of concentration camps in Germany and share with you important tips for visiting these places with respect.

The Holocaust: A Brief Overview

The Holocaust involved the extermination of mainly Jews, but also six million other innocent men, women and children from Europe, including Romani people (Gsypes), Poles, physically disabled people, those who opposed Adolph Hitler’s regime, homosexual individuals, and more. The concentration camps were all a part of this terrible era in the history.

What were concentration camps?:

Nazi’s created concentration camps for the purpose of imprisoning, torturing, and killing people who were considered to be an un-desirable in the eyes of the Nazi party. It was used for various economic production goals –forced labor, experimentation of new treatment, mostly medical, and carrying out the ‘Final Solution’, the extermination of the Jewish race.

Concentration Camps in Germany – Key Camps

Germany’s concentration camps are among the most famous ones, and although they all experienced the horrors of holocaust, each of them has its unique history to despaired for. Here are some of the most notable camps:

Auschwitz-Birkenau

Auschwitz-Birkenau camp is well known, located in modern Poland but controlled by Germany. They estimate that around 6 camp’s garrison 1100000 people were killed, of which 900000 were Jews.

Dachau

Dachau concentration camp was established in 1933 and is located in a town just outskirts of Munich. At first, the administration was designed for political prisoners and subsequently became an example of other similar camps in Germany.

Buchenwald

Buchenwald located near Weimar, confined myriad prisoners irrespective of religion, colour, faith, or proficiency, yet it accommodated only a few hundred Jews, political and intellectual dissidents. Some even postulate that more than fifty six thousand perished or were exterminated in this camp.

Planning Your Visit

Touring Germany’s concentration camps is a delicate exercise that needs to be well prepared to avoid unworthy experiences. Here are some essential tips for your trip:

Research and Educate Yourself

To prepare for your visit, please spend some time learning about the Holocaust on your own first. Borrow or obtain books related to the camps and individual and collective experiences of individuals during and after the war and documentaries and online resources.

Choose Your Camps

Choose which concentration camps are of interest to you and which are sufficiently close by. These are some of the most famous but there are other camps that might be worth discussing such as Sachsenhausen and or Ravensbrück.

Most travellers carry out their tours either on their own, or with a guide, or as a mixed tour Between these types, guided tours and independent visits are mostly often in contrast.

That said, it is possible to visit these sites alone, however, it is recommended to go for guided tour to get the most out of them. This type of guides can tell you historical facts and narratives about the place and also be able to give a response to any of the questions that you might be asking. It also helps them to make your visit quite appropriate and in respect with the holiness of that place.

Prepare Emotionally

Holocaust camps are always a painful experience to go through. ‘I’ll tell you the truth and you must accept that it may take some time to become used to what is out there.’ If it becomes too tiring, then one should take a break and when viewing the sites do so quietly and with due respect.

Photography and Souvenirs

Please bear in mind that concentration camps are not an ordinary tourist destinations. Do not forget the victims by not taking silly selfies or buying stupid souvenirs at the site. The times that you should visit this site requires you to be very decorous and dignified at all times.

Conclusion

Touring Germany is a chance to venerate concentration camps and thus to guarantee that the people of Germany themselves will never forget the Concentration Camps brutality which was resistance to the World War II evil. With knowledge and exposure to these sites, we are empowering ourselves to work to protect our past as we also build the future. Just bear in mind those ones are historical places and it is really important to show respect and be humble visiting those camps.