Berlin day 3: Sachsenhausen

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July 4th 2009

Published: July 4th 2009

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DPR

Translation: Work shall set you free

Thursday

Today started out with another amazing breakfast. We took the bus over to the Zoologischer Garten Station to meet for our 2nd tour with Mike. We were heading to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, which is located about 40 km north of Berlin (only about a 27 minute train ride). Established in 1936, this Sachsenhausen was used as the “model camp” in which all others were designed after. We started our tour with a walk from the train station to the actual camp. Just outside its walls were houses that used to be old SS barracks and training grounds. Before entering, we saw the T-building. This used to be one of the most terrifying buildings during Nazi time. It was the main office for the head inspector for all concentration camps. Also, it was here where all mass organized executions across Europe were planned. We made our way down the street towards the main entrance. The basic layout for the camp was a triangle, with a tower and main gate and the base. This provided an ideal vantage point to overlook the entire camp. I won’t go into too much detail about our tour. It was a horrifying and emotional

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place, not to mention how disturbing it was to imagine what would be going on just 65 years ago. Here are just a few facts that we learned about the camp: only 15 people from this camp were ever put on trial for their crimes; very few escapes (one actually befriended an SS guard and they ran away together to England); 200,000 inmates over the years, a disturbing amount of deaths; in the pathology building, numerous inhumane experiments were conducted on its prisoners; Stalin’s own son was imprisoned here; held mostly political prisoners; liberation on May 3-6, 1945. Overall, it was a very somber experience. It was very interesting, and I’m glad we went (definitely recommended), but a very disturbing experience…

After we got back, Viv got lunch from this little stand called “China Box,” which consisted of a little box with noodles, chicken, and a few veggies. It wasn’t very good (too salty and not much flavor), but she was starving. We went back to the hotel for a shower and nap. It felt good to get clean after our day, luckily it wasn’t as hot as the day before.

On a much happier note, later that

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night, we went to the Reichstag building. This is Berlin's Parliament. It has a huge glass dome on top (symbolizing the openness of the government to the people). We went to the top, where we could see a full panoramic view of all of Berlin. Inside, there is a cupola of mirrors which radiates natural light onto the Parliament floor. Also, the sunlight concentrated from these mirrors heats water, which is then forced down deep beneath the ground. During the winter months, this is used to heat the building (if i remember correctly, this building is 50% self-sufficient). A very cool building.

Afterwards, we went over to former East Berlin (as recommended by Mike) where the night scene was much more prominent. We had a very nice meal at this Indian food restaurant (not very spicy, but very flavorful), then went and hung out at a famous Beer Garden for a little. It was a lot of fun and a really cool atmosphere. There were so many people out on the streets walking around, hanging out. We headed back early since we were both worn out from the day.

Tomorrow, our third and final tour with Mike &