Educational excursion to Neuengamme Concentration Camp, lasting a single day
Guided Tour Offered to Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial
On Saturday, May 24, the State Agency for Political Education and the "Remembering for the Future" association are organizing a bus trip to the Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial. Participants will take part in a guided tour of the site.
Established in 1938 and located southeast of Hamburg, Neuengamme was the largest concentration camp in northwest Germany. Over 100,000 people from across Europe were imprisoned at the main camp, and over 85 satellite camps. At least 42,900 prisoners died in Neuengamme, its satellite camps, and during evacuations at the end of the war. After the war, the British occupation authorities converted the camp into an internment camp for three years. In 1948, the city of Hamburg took control of the buildings and grounds and constructed two prisons.
The Neuengamme camp underwent significant changes in the ensuing years. An International Memorial was built in 1965, with a Document House added in 1981. Political controversies surrounding the presence of modern prisons on the site led to their eventual relocation in the mid-2000s, allowing the memorial to expand into a comprehensive exhibition, meeting, and study center.
The cost for the bus trip and memorial entrance is approximately 30 euros. The meeting point will be at 10 am at the ZOB Bremen, Rosa-Parks-Ring 11-15. Interested individuals should register at www.politische-bildung-bremen.de.
Throughout its history, the Neuengamme Memorial has evolved to encompass a more comprehensive commemoration of its victims. In recent years, new additions have included a monument unveiled in May 2025, which extends the international memorial to honor the various home countries of the victims. This ongoing development signifies the commitment to memorializing and educating about the Holocaust and its impact on diverse communities.
References:
[1] Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial. (n.d.). Timeline. https://www.stiftung-neuengamme.de/en/timeline/
[3] Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial. (n.d.). International Memorial Site. https://www.stiftung-neuengamme.de/en/international-monument/
Participants of the May 24 bus trip will learn about the history of the Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial, a site that not only reflects the scientific understanding of war crimes but also provides insights into the medical conditions endured by the prisoners. During free time, one might consider visiting other parts of Germany, mergeing the tragic history lesson with travel and lifestyle exploration.
