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Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen

22 Straße der Nationen, Oranienburg, Brandenburg

Description

The Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen seeks to document the story of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Orianenburg, 35km north of Berlin. It was used from 1936 to 1945 under German Nazi rule and held several prominent prisoners such as Stalin's oldest son and French, Spanish and Ukrainian political leaders. The labour camp had a gas chamber and medical experimentation area and served as a training centre for SS to perfect the best execution methods to be used in the death camps. It was liberated in April 1945 but used by the Soviet secret service thereafter. An open-air exhibition can be visited daily for free and is supplemented by other exhibitions in the various buildings.

Access & Transport

Address: Straße der Nationen 22, 16515 Oranienburg Orianenburg can be reached from Berlin using the S1 suburban line (from Berlin Gesundbrunnen sttion) followed by a 2km walk or the RB12 regional service (from Lichtenberg station) followed by a 1km walk. By car, take the A114/A10 then the exit toward Mühlenbeck/Wensickendorf to reach Orianenburg. The memorial is located to the northeast of the town.

Instructions & Recommendations

We recommend parents read about the historical background and what they will see before heading there with their children and assess whether this attraction is suitable. Our sense is 13-14yrs old is the right age to get to grip with history.

Meta review

The memorial isn't the most well-known concentration camp in the country so there are comparatively less reviews - nor is it an attraction that is very advertised, obviously. Comments are positive in terms of educational content and strongly suggest renting an audio-guide to make the most of your visit or take a guided tour; they also highlight how large the place is so that you can expect to spend more than 2h there. For those relying on public transport, the main drawback is the location which involves a slightly lengthy walk from and to the center of Oranienburg.

Environmental & Social

Environmentally neutral. Important as a memorial, historical and educational site.

Conclusion

The Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum is an educational and emotionally intense visit. It isn't the most impressive of all concentration camps in terms of scale and documentation but anybody who has not visited any such camp in Germany, Austria or Poland should feel a moral obligation to take this opportunity whilst in Berlin or the surrounding area

Key positive

Educational visit

Important to remember and commemorate

Key negative

Time consuming to get to by public transport

Not suitable to younger family members

Suitability

Suitable for children aged 12 and above but this is a recommendation and there is no age limit for self-guided tours. Accessible for visitors with reduced mobility but assistance may be required in some sections

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

May 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
The outdoor exhibits close at 18h00 in the summer and 16h30 in the winter

av. transport time:1h

est. visit time:2h 30m

Regulated hours

Monday08:30 - 17:00

Tuesday08:30 - 17:00

Wednesday08:30 - 17:00

Thursday08:30 - 17:00

Friday08:30 - 17:00

Saturday08:30 - 17:00

Sunday08:30 - 17:00

Pricing
Advanced booking required for guided tours and fees apply. Audioguides available for 3.5€
Free

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