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Memorial · Berlim, Berlim
Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen
Memorial at the former Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Oranienburg, north of Berlin. A place of remembrance with exhibitions in the original buildings.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen
The Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen, Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen, is located outside Berlin, in the town of Oranienburg, in the state of Brandenburg, about 35 kilometres north of the city centre. It occupies the site of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, opened by the SS in 1936. Because it was near the capital of the Reich, the camp served as a model and training center for the SS, and from 1938 it housed the administration of all German concentration camps.
By 1945, more than 200,000 people had been imprisoned there: first political opponents, then Jews, Sinti and Roma, homosexuals and other groups persecuted by the Nazi regime and, from 1939, increasingly people from the occupied countries. Tens of thousands died from starvation, disease, forced labour and mistreatment, or were murdered. The camp was liberated by the Red Army in April 1945.
From 1945 to 1950 the Soviet forces used the site as a special prisoner camp, where thousands more died. The memorial was opened in 1961 and today is a place of remembrance and study. More than ten exhibitions spread across the site, in original buildings and ruins, such as the entrance gate, barracks, the infirmary and the kitchen, tell the history of each place.
The visit is emotionally demanding. Silence and respect are requested: this is not a place for posed photos. Many visitors come with guides or use the audio guide to understand the route.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
3 to 4 hours at the memorial, plus about 1 hour travel each way from central Berlin.
Best time
In the morning, so you have time to go through the exhibitions at a relaxed pace. From mid-March to mid-October the opening hours are longer; from mid-October to mid-March the exhibitions usually close on Mondays. Check opening times before you go.
How to get there
It is outside Berlin. From Berlin, take the S-Bahn S1 or the regional trains RE5 or RB12 to Oranienburg station (your ticket must cover zone C). From the station, go by bus or on foot along the signed path, about a 20-minute walk. By car, access is via Berlin's ring motorway (A10).
Tip
There is no entrance fee. To understand the site, a guided tour or the audio guide is worthwhile; it usually has versions in several languages. Bring a coat from October to March: the area is exposed and very windy. It is not a visit recommended for small children.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen
Is Sachsenhausen in Berlim?
No. It is in Oranienburg, in the state of Brandemburgo, about 35 kilometers north of the center of Berlim. It takes nearly 1 hour by public transport from the center.
How to get from Berlim to Sachsenhausen by public transport?
Take the S-Bahn S1 or regional trains RE5 or RB12 to Oranienburg, with a ticket covering zones A, B and C. From the station, take a bus or walk about 20 minutes along the signposted route.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. Entrance to the memorial is free. Guided tours and audio guides may have a cost.
How should one behave at the memorial?
It is a place of remembrance for the victims of Nazism. Keep quiet, respect the commemorative spaces, and avoid posed photos.