Upon arriving at Oranienburg station, the camp is not right next door. You have two options: a 20-25 minute walk following the brown signs, or taking bus 804 or 821 (direction Malz) which drops you right at the Memorial gate.
A Necessary Visit
Visiting the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum is not a pleasant tourist activity, but it is undoubtedly one of the most important ones. Located in Oranienburg, this site served as a 'model camp' for the design of other extermination and forced labor camps.
You won't find the beauty of Potsdam's palaces here, but the cold testimony of the Nazi machinery and, later, the Soviet era. To understand Berlin, you must understand Sachsenhausen.
🚆 Getting There: The Zone C Trap
Sachsenhausen is located outside Berlin proper. You need to travel to Oranienburg station.
- S-Bahn (S1): Departs from the city center (Friedrichstraße, Brandenburger Tor). Takes about 45-50 minutes. Most frequent option.
- Regional Train (RE5): Faster (25 min) if leaving from Hauptbahnhof or Potsdamer Platz.
- ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Oranienburg is in Zone C. You absolutely need an ABC ticket (approx. €4.40). Ticket inspectors are very common on this line as they know tourists often make mistakes here.
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From Station to Camp
Know Before You Go
Practical facts to organize your visit.
Key Points
- Free Admission (Audio guide €3)
- Duration: 3-4 hours
- Tower A: 'Arbeit macht frei'
- Barracks 38 & 39
- Station Z (Execution Trench)
Location
Points
- Oranienburg Station
- Visitor Entrance
- Tower A
Días
- Día 1
Remember to plan your return trip checking S-Bahn schedules, usually running every 20 minutes.
Walking Through History
Entrance to the grounds is free, although we highly recommend renting an audio guide at the visitor center or, even better, joining a guided tour. The lack of detailed explanatory panels in some areas makes having a guide completely change the experience.
If you want to ensure an expert guide who explains the political and human context, we recommend booking here: 👉 Sachsenhausen Guided Tour.
1. Tower A and the Architecture of Terror
Access is through Tower A. On the iron gate, you will see the infamous phrase 'Arbeit macht frei' ('Work sets you free'). Unlike Auschwitz, where the sign was stolen and recovered, here it remains in its original structure.
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The Panopticon
Sachsenhausen was designed as an equilateral triangle. The idea was that from Tower A (where the machine gun was located), a single guard could control the entire camp. It was the triumph of architecture in the service of terror.
2. Barracks and Daily Life
Most of the original barracks were dismantled, but some have been reconstructed to show living conditions. You can see the three-tiered bunk beds, communal latrines, and punishment cells.
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Operation Bernhard
In barracks 18 and 19, a group of Jewish prisoners (designers, printers) were forced to forge British pounds and US dollars. It was the largest counterfeiting operation in history, with which the Nazis attempted to destabilize the British economy.
3. Station Z and The End
At the far end of the camp lies the grim Station Z. Named because 'A' was the entrance and 'Z' the end. Here you will see the remains of the gas chambers, the crematorium, and the execution trench where over 10,000 Soviet POWs were murdered.
You will also see the massive Soviet Obelisk. It is important to remember that after 1945, the Soviets used this same site as 'Special Camp No. 7' to imprison Nazi officials and political opponents.
Final Thoughts
Returning to Berlin after Sachsenhausen often leaves you feeling heavy. It's normal. Take the evening easy. We recommend a quiet walk or comfort food, but perhaps it's not the best day for extreme partying right upon return.
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