Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

Located just north of Berlin, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was one of the most notorious death camps of the Nazi regime. The site was built in the summer of 1936 by prisoners from the Emsland camps and was used to train SS Officers who went on to command other camps. In January 1945, there were more than 65,000 prisoners here, 13,000 of which were women. A total of 105,000 Jews died here before Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was liberated by the Allies on April 22, 1945. The Soviets then used the space as a prison camp until 1950.

Today Sachsenhausen is a museum and memorial site with a library, archive and open-air exhibition. There are a dozen exhibitions throughout the site, including in the barracks, prison, kitchen and commandant's offices.

Practical Info

Sachsenhausen is located in Oranienburg about an hour by train from central Berlin. The library and archive are open Tuesday to Friday, while the open-air exhibition and memorial are open every day. Entry is free, while guided tours are also available for 15 euro.