Achtung: Half of this might be a little depressing.

The first concentration camp built in the area which used to make up Prussia is located directly outside of Berlin in the town of Oranienburg. My thought was, 'how can I not visit a place which signifies such a huge part of fairly recent history?' So, on Saturday, Emily and I made our way to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. 

Being on the grounds of Sachsenhausen was definitely surreal. The building you see in this photo was named by the Nazis 'Tower A' because it is where the prisoners would enter upon arrival. The crematorium area was named Station Z, marking the last station of the prisoners life. 

                                   The courtyard where the prisoners would check-in upon arrival.

The house where the camp director lived...conveniently located outside the main wall of Sachsenhausen. 

Barracks where the prisoners would sleep, sometimes three to a bed. 

Operating room

It is kind of hard to make out this picture, but it is a painting made by an eleven year old girl who was rescued from Sachsenhausen. This was her interpretation of the camp. What stuck out most to me was how she used the obvious blonde hair and blue eyes to signify the SS guard. 

 There was a seperate prison for 'special cases.' As if Sachsenhausen isn't enough of a prison in and of itself.

It is hard to picture what life was like during the 30's and 40's when Hitler was in power. I cannot even imagine the fear under which people lived during that time. The Nazis not only targeted Jews, but Gypsies, homosexuals, Christians, and anyone else that the Nazis might consider an 'enemy of the state.' Pretty much, no one was safe. You would be imprisoned for listening to Jazz music because it has roots in Africa.

                                               

                             I wasn't sure if smiling in a picture at a concentration camp was okay...

Sunday, we made our way to Potsdam. Potsdam is about a 20 minute train ride from Berlin and is home to several Prussian palaces built by Friedrich die Zweite. Potsdam was beautiful, scenic, and a nice change of pace from crowded Berlin.

Kleingarten - 'small garden'

                                                            What a cute little snail!!

I am thinking of buying that house when I move to Germany in the future. 

The frienship temple. The columns are built in twos to signify strong friendship. 

 Hausschuhe! These house shoes were required in all of the palaces we entered. Basically, the floors are all made of hard wood or marble and they are really well preserved, so they do not want anyone to walk with their regualar shoes on the floor. This was really the best part of the tours because the shoes were so slippery, we just skated everywhere!

I think I've inherited my mother's impulsive flower photo-taking gene.

And of course there is a seperate palace for tea. I mean come on, who would dare drink tea in any of the other 6 palaces in Potsdam?

I am a statue. 

Freidrich II was known as the 'kartoffel king' and people offer Karoffeln (potatoes) at his grave. 

Also, he is buried next to his 13 dogs. 

It means 'no worries'...really, it does.