Sachsenhausen

Adam Barclay, History teacher

On June 21st, the Grade 8 students visited Sachsenhausen. Sachsenhausen is a memorial on the site of the concentration camp built in 1936. Between 1936 and 1945 more than 200,000 people were imprisoned here. They included political opponents of the Nazi regime, members of groups declared by the Nazis to be racially or biologically inferior, such as Jews, Sinti and Roma, and people persecuted as homosexuals, as well as so-called “career criminals” and “antisocials (Sachesenhausen Museum, 2022).”

It was an important experience for the students. One student commented on the immense sadness the area had. Another stated that even after seeing the place, it was hard to truly imagine the horrors that took place. It was clear their time spent there had a lasting impact. The other teachers and myself noticed how the majority of the students broke off into pairs or walked by themselves as they let the enormity of what happened there sink in.

Remembering and talking about the Holocaust is an integral part of the History curriculum as we strive to prevent these atrocities happening in other places around the world. We decided against taking any pictures at the site as a mark of respect.