Today we are on an all day tour from the port of Wanamunde to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and then in to Berlin. Since it is such a long drive (over 3 hours each way)we limited the tour to just 2 couples and paid extra for a "luxury van". Unfortunately, the German's idea of a luxury van was different than mine but it was OK. Our driver spoke no English so we were sort of at a disadvantage until we got to Sachsenhausen and met our guide, Ryan, who was wonderful!
The camp was established in 1936. It was located 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Berlin, which gave it a primary position among the German concentration camps: the administrative centre of all concentration camps was located in Oranienburg, and Sachsenhausen became a training centre for Schutzstaffel (SS) officers (who would often be sent to oversee other camps afterwards). Executions took place at Sachsenhausen, especially of Soviet prisoners of war. Among the prisoners, there was a "hierarchy": at the top, criminals (rapists, murderers), then Communists (red triangles), then homosexuals (pink triangles), Jehovah's Witnesses (purple triangles), and Jews (yellow triangles). During the earlier stages of the camp's existence the executions were done in a trench, either by shooting or by hanging. A large task force of prisoners was used from the camp to work in nearby brickworks to meet Albert Speer's vision of rebuilding Berlin.Sachsenhausen was originally not intended as an extermination camp—instead, the systematic murder was conducted in camps to the east. In 1942 large numbers of Jewish inmates were relocated to Auschwitz. However the construction of a gas chamber and ovens by camp-commandant Anton Kaindl in March 1943 facilitated the means to kill larger numbers of prisoners.
Walking in to the camp by the "A" gate
Barrack 38 that housed over 400 Jewish prisoners at one time
Example of uniform worn by prisoners
Towards the end of the war, 13,000 Red Army POWs arrived at Sachsenhausen. Over 10,000 were executed in the camp by being shot in the back of the neck through a hidden hole in a wall while being measured for a uniform. Their bodies were then burnt in a crematorium.
Remains of the gas chambers in "Z" building. Fittingly, it was pouring rain as we toured the last part of the camp. It is truly hard to imagine the atrocities that occurred in this place of horror......
The sky cleared as we headed on to tour Berlin.
We enjoyed a nice lunch at a little cafe. That's Ryan with Mike, Pam and Charlie.
Berlin Cathedral
Mike finally got his brat....
Bebelplatz, the site of the Nazi Bookburning at Humboldt University.
Checkpoint Charlie....TACKY......notice McDonald's in the background
Remaining section of the Berlin Wall
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe ( Holocaust Memorial)
New American Embassy at Pariser Platz
Brandenburg Gate
Reichstag Dome (new home of the Bundestag)
Then it was back in the van for the 3 hour drive back to Wanamunde and reboarding the Constellation. It was a very long day.....but a good day...except for the weather!
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