Explore Sachsenhausen: History, tours, and things to see

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was one of the first Nazi concentration camps built and operated under Heinrich Himmler’s SS regime. Located in Oranienburg, just north of Berlin, the site was intended as a model for future camps and functioned both as a prison and a training center for SS personnel. Over 200,000 prisoners passed through its gates between 1936 and 1945. Inmates included political opponents, Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Soviet prisoners of war. Today, it is a memorial site and museum, offering a powerful educational experience on the atrocities committed during the Nazi era and the post-war Soviet occupation.

Sachsenhausen is located in the town of Oranienburg, approximately 35 kilometers north of central Berlin. It’s easily accessible by public transport and is often included in day trips from Berlin. The site lies in a quiet residential suburb, offering a stark contrast to the events that took place within its fences.

Address: Straße der Nationen 22, 16515 Oranienburg, Germany

• April to October: Daily from 8:30am to 6pm
• November to March: Daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Closed on: December 24
• Tip: Last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.

• Take RE5 or RB12 regional train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Oranienburg Station (35–40 minutes).
• From Oranienburg Station, walk for 20 minutes or take Bus 804 to the memorial entrance.
• Sachsenhausen day trips from Berlin often include transportation and guided tours.
• Public transport tickets (Berlin ABC zone) cover the route.

• Explore a powerful historical site that served as a prototype for Nazi concentration camps.
• Learn about the experiences of over 200,000 prisoners during the Third Reich.
• Walk through original barracks, guard towers, and the chilling execution trench.
• View in-depth exhibits showcasing Nazi atrocities, prisoner resistance, and postwar trials.
• Take a guided tour led by expert historians for deeper insight into the site’s significance.
• Visit the Soviet-era prison zone that was later added during the GDR period.

• Opened in 1936 under SS control as a model concentration camp.
• Initially used for political prisoners; later expanded to target Jews, Roma, and POWs.
• Became a site for mass murder, medical testing, and forced labor.
• Around 30,000 prisoners died here before the camp was liberated in 1945.
• Used by the Soviets from 1945–1950 to detain alleged Nazi collaborators.
• Memorial established by East Germany in 1961; expanded after reunification.

• The triangular layout allowed guards in Tower A to oversee all camp areas.
• Buildings are arranged symmetrically around a central roll-call yard.
• Infrastructures include barracks, kitchens, an infirmary, and a camp prison.
• Execution trench, crematorium, and gas chamber were added to increase killing efficiency.
• Soviet-era cells and memorials were added post-WWII.
• Design reflected Nazi ideals of control, order, and surveillance.

• Tower A: The iconic entrance watchtower from where guards had a panoramic view of the entire camp.
• Roll Call Area: Where prisoners stood for hours in harsh conditions.
• Barracks: Restored prisoner barracks showing living conditions.
• Camp Prison: Used for solitary confinement and brutal punishments.
• Medical Experiment Room: Site of horrific pseudo-medical experiments.
• Execution Trench & Crematorium: Used for systematic killings.
• Jewish Memorial & Obelisk: Post-war additions honoring the victims.
• Soviet Special Camp No. 7: Exhibits on post-war political prisoners.
• Permanent Exhibitions: Includes "Path of the Prisoners" and "Everyday Life in the Camp."