Sachsenhausen?
 

I've never wanted to go to a concentration camp, but I just watched a German film called "The Counterfeiters," a true story about a Nazi scheme to counterfeit British and American currency. It takes/took place at Sachsenhausen, and I'd like to see the place where the plan was carried out.

Have you been there? If so, do you think it will be a harrowing experience to visit it?

I went there from Berlin - it's a short enough train ride north of Berlin - about a mile or so walk from the train station but well-marked.

I liked it - well like is not the word but was sobered by it - usual relics in glass cases in blocks you need not go into - not a whole lot left here - some barracks and a partially intact gas chamber area you need not peer into - I think you'll be really fine.

To me walking thru the gates of any camp is a harrowing experience that lets your imagination run wild with the horrors perpetrated in this work not death camp per se.

As the images show there is a lot of empty space with just foundations harking back to the many barracks.

Hubby and I went on a day trip in 2008 from Berlin.

It was sobering. I felt it was worth a day trip.

I have been here 3 times. I felt the exhibits and museums here were better done than those in Dachau, if one can say that. Many buildings are original because the Soviets used them after the war.

You might want to consider Ravensbruck too. The place looks like a summer camp pulling up to it, but that is all a farce. Excellent exhibits, very chilling. The cabins for the female guards are worth visiting. Very moving to see each of the exhibits done by the respective countries for their women that were imprisoned and killed here.

For those interested, the book, "If This is a Woman" will tell you more about this KZ. Not enough people know about it.

I have visited twice and strongly recommend it. On those visits the only option was a 20 minute or so walk but I see there is now an hourly service to/from the station to the camp (Number 804).

Pegontheroad, if I can recommend anything it's to read this thread from a good few years ago. It was this that made me visit:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ausen-camp.cfm

Jon

Peg, this is not directly related to Sachsenhausen, but I wonder if you have discovered on YouTube 'The World at War'. It's a British TV documentary made in the 70s ( I remember watching it first time round) of real-time newsreels of WW2.
Sounds like your kind of thing. 24 programmes Totally engrossing.