Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp which is situated near Berlin was an important concentration camp during the Nazi regime. The purpose of this article is to give basic orientation of Sachsenhausen and to explain the circumstances that prisoners had to deal with as well as the significance of this place for the realization of the Holocaust.
Formation and objective of Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen concentration camp was built in 1936 as Sachsenhausen by the SS, as one of the first new ‘purpose built’ concentration camps. Initially it was built to hold political prisoners and later on one of the largest camp during the Second World War.
The main goal of the camp was to eliminate political opponents to the Nazis Sasia Osborn, 2003 The main function of the camp was to remove political rivals to the Nazis. It was used to copy the situation and demonstrate the capabilities of the regime and methods of punishment . It was set conveniently near Berlin and later became convenient for the SS to use for propaganda means.
Different categories of prisoners were held in Sachsenhausen, these included political prisoners, homosexuals, Jehovah’s witnesses and Jews. The camp also included Soviet prisoners of war, and other people who Nazi regime considered racially or socially substandard.
Living Spaces of Sachsenhausen
Life in Sachsenhausen was very uncomfortable and unclement to say the least. Women suffered from forced labor, forced abuse, forced starvation and forced medical experimentation.
Here are some key aspects of life in Sachsenhausen:
Housing: Other conditions that were evident during this period included; Prisoner crowded and unhygienic accommodation. Shelters were makeshift that inevitably proved to be of inferior quality, bad protection against elements.
Work and Forced Labor: These included digging and quarrying besides engaging in other hard core manufacturing activities. The SS needed productivity at the camp and they ensured the German war was supported through the labor force of the camp.
Punishment: Sachsenhausen is particularly notorious for employing brutal means of punishment and they included: beating, torturing and standing cells.
Medical Experiments: As well as other KL concentration camps, inmates of Sachsenhausen were subjected to various medical experiments which can be hardly referred to as ethical. These experiments were either lethal and were conducted to promote further the nazi narrative.
Resistance and Death: Nevertheless the harsh environment was worse and prisoners carried out acts of resistance and sabotage. However, many of them died from neglect, killing by the Germans or from experimental treatments.
The implications of the Liberation and the Post-was use of atomic bombs;
Thereafter, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was liberated by the Soviet army in April 1945. It was in used as an internment camp for Soviet by holding German prisoner after the Second World War Later the camp was transformed into prison for political prisoners. Though it planned and like many other similar facilities, it was eventually repurposed for the memorial and museum for the victims of the holocaust perpetrated by the Nazis.
Now the Sachsenhausen is an open museum of the holocaust in Germany; people can visit and open their eyes to the history itself. The prisoner camp’s museum has relics, photographs, documents which help to explain the sufferings of people and the actions of Nazi Germany.
Visiting Sachsenhausen
If you are planning a visit to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, here are some helpful tips:
It is advised that you take enough time for your visit because the camp grounds and surveying through the museum will probably become time consumable exercises.
For more detailed information one may consider a taking a guided tour in order to get better understanding of the camp.Do not insult anyone in your visit. Sachsenhausen is a concentration camp memorial site and people must be allowed to stroll around at their leisure while discussing or simply being quiet.Wear according to the weather since you will be moving in one place to another also wear comfortable shoes.Use and invite an educational tour within the camp where there may be facility such as Audio guide or some pamphlet literature to read.
Remembering the Past
In realizing the types of places as Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, we learn the kind indignities that many victims went through and guarantee freedom from impairments’ reincarnation. On the one hand, it is a strong message concerning the need of being tolerant and supporting human rights to create a more empathetic society.
Looking into history assists us in trying to build a better future!
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