Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen

Over its operational period, Sachsenhausen held around 200,000 prisoners from various countries, including political opponents, Jews, Soviet prisoners of war, and others persecuted by the Nazi regime.

The camp was characterized by brutal conditions, including forced labor, inadequate food, and medical care, leading to high mortality rates. Prisoners were employed in armaments production, construction, and other industries. The camp also witnessed medical experiments conducted on prisoners, including testing of new drugs and procedures.

Sachsenhausen’s significance extended beyond its role as a concentration camp. It housed the administrative headquarters of all concentration camps and was a training center for SS guards. The camp’s layout, with its triangular shape and the infamous “T” shaped buildings, was designed to maximize control and surveillance over the prisoners.

As the war neared its end, the SS began evacuating prisoners from Sachsenhausen. In April 1945, tens of thousands of prisoners were forced on death marches towards the Baltic Sea. The camp was liberated by Soviet and Polish troops on April 22, 1945. At the time of liberation, only a few thousand prisoners, mostly sick and weak, remained in the camp.

After the war, the Soviet Union used Sachsenhausen as a special camp for political prisoners until 1950. In 1961, the GDR established the Sachsenhausen National Memorial, which was expanded and redesigned after German reunification. Today, the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum serve as a place of remembrance and education. It includes preserved remnants of the camp, a museum, and educational resources, providing a comprehensive understanding of the camp’s history and its role in the Holocaust.

The Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum feature several permanent exhibitions that provide insights into various aspects of the site’s history. The memorial is not only a place of mourning and remembrance but also takes on the role of a modern contemporary history museum and education center.