Concentration camps in Germany

I do not know about the other ones, so far as visiting them, but I have been to Dachau. I think if this former concentration camp is nearer to where you are going, then I would go there. It has a museum with artifacts and personal belongings of some of the prisoners who were there. A reconstructed barracks, with wood from the original ones, and a oven building, and shower areas to see. It is very moving and somber,and it does give a person the message of what has happened during this time. I could not believe I was walking where this horrible thing has happened. It is one thing, when you read about it or see films, and when you are actually there.

Sandra, which Concentration Camp to visit will to some extent depend on which area you'll be travelling in? If you're primarily going to be in Bavaria and southern Germany, then Dachau would be the logical choice. ¶ As with the previous reply, I haven't visited Buchenwald or Sachsenhausen (yet), but I have visited Dachau. It was the first camp and was used as a model for the others, so provides some idea on the living conditions and why the camps were structured as they were. Good luck with your planning!

This isn't my own personal experience, but I have a friend who has been to both Dachau and Sachsenhausen, so I asked him once which one he would recommend seeing, cause honestly, how can one say which camp is "better". He said Sachsenhausen. I think the main reason is that the Communists used it for many years after the war, so many buildings are intact. Sachsenhausen is also very close to Ravensbruck, the womens camp, so you could visit both of them....Three years ago, I went to Sachsenhausen with my then 17 year old daughter. We both were very moved and impressed....My recommendation is to go the websites of the camps and have a look at their museums, exhibits, buildings, etc.

I haven't been to Sachsenhausen but I have been to Dachau. For a historical perspective, Dachau provides a pretty vivd picture of the horror of the concentration camps, but if you want to get an idea of the overwhelming scope of the Nazi atrocity your best bet is a visit to the Bergen-Belsen Memorial. It sits in a small meadow southwest of the little town of Bergen and north of Celle. The exhibit at the memorial is modest and there are no structures to examine. What there are are mass grave, upon mass grave marked simply with low sandstone walls identifying the number - in thousands - buried in each. The setting, even on a sunny day, is somber. It is said that the birds do not sing at Bergen-Belsen. I've been there twice and it was true both times.

thanks so much for the info- actually in our travels we will going close by each one but just needed to know which one to scope out - just did not want to make an effort to stop at all three if they were all about the same and use that time visiting something else.

I have been to both Dachau and Sachsenhausen, they are both easy to get to with public transport. I preferred Dachau because we took the guided tour there, and the guide was excellent, no guided tour in Sachsenhausen. Also depends on how much time you want to spend there, Dachau can be done in half a day, Sachsenhausen is a full day trip, more ground to cover and it has a lot more exhibits. If i had to do it again, I would go to Sachsenhausen but i would take Insider's tour from Berlin, more expensive but i think it would be worth it.

I have been to Buchenwald albeit a long time ago. What I remember is that this camp had a lot of a prisoners that were not Jewish - gays, Roma, Americans, communists, etc. It had a museum. I'll never forget the lampshade made from human skin. I think you should pick based on what fits your schedule and plans. Pam