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Home » Europe

Visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp

By: Claire  On: June 29, 2015  Updated: August 12, 2024   5 Comments

The Dachau Concentration Camp is a place that will stick with you long after you’ve visited it. Created in 1933 as a camp for political prisoners, Dachau served as a model for all subsequent concentration camps built under the Nazi regime. In its twelve years of existence, Dachau had over 200,000 prisoners pass through its gates.Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp--tallgirlbigworld.com Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp--tallgirlbigworld.com
The concentration camp is essentially an open field now with markers showing where the barracks had stood. The museum in the former maintenance building walks you through Germany’s history immediately before, during, and after the Nazi regime.Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp--tallgirlbigworld.com Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp--tallgirlbigworld.com
The brief bits of information I just shared with you can be found on any website. However, the history of Dachau is not what I want this post to be about. To be perfectly honest, I find it hard to describe my visit to Dachau because I felt like my very presence there was invasive. A few years ago I visited one of the killing fields in Cambodia, which had been created under the Khmer Rouge regime.  Dachau felt like another killing field to me.Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp--tallgirlbigworld.com Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp--tallgirlbigworld.com
When I walked to the Jewish Memorial on site, I heard two women singing a song in Hebrew, presumably for the victims of the camp. Although I can only imagine the impact World War II had on prior generations, I am still amazed at how memorial sites such as Dachau manage to impart a feeling of solidarity and compassion among those who visit them.Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp--tallgirlbigworld.com

Equally amazing is how the town of Dachau has become a hub of daily life. The bus ride through the town was both surprising and inspiring because I hadn’t even thought of there being a town outside the concentration camp. However, the town of Dachau very much exists, and I’m glad it does because I feel like it shows how far we as a society have come since the end of WWII.

If you ever find yourself in Munich, you should make the trip to Dachau. However, it would be beneficial if you first read some literature on the Holocaust to prepare yourself before you visit it first hand.

Signing off,

Claire

 

posted in: Europe, Germany

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Written by Claire

Hiya! I'm the writer and photographer behind Tall Girl Big World. After being laid off from my corporate editorial job in NYC, I spent a year building up my freelance writing business before moving to Berlin, Germany in 2019. As of 2025, I've just received my permanent residence permit and can now officially call Berlin home. I've traveled extensively throughout Germany and share my top tips and recommendations in my detailed travel guides. I also write guides to my favorite European destinations (when my freelance schedule allows, that is!). Meet Claire.

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Krissie says

    July 1, 2015

    I can only imagine the feeling of visiting here, thank you for sharing

    Krissie x – http://pearlsofstyle.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • claire says

      July 1, 2015

      I’m glad you enjoyed my thoughts. Thanks so much for your comment!

      Reply
  2. vonny says

    July 1, 2015

    Oh this camp looks really cool.

    http://www.vonnydu.com

    Reply
  3. Maddy says

    July 16, 2015

    Visiting Dachau was an experience I will never forget. It’s hard to even describe. As soon as I walked through the gates, my stomach started churning and I felt sick, like I was going to throw up. It’s hard to believe human beings could actually commit those atrocities against other human beings, but to actually be there where it happened…
    Like you said, “The Dachau Concentration Camp is a place that will stick with you long after you’ve visited it.”
    http://www.travelalphas.com

    Reply
    • claire says

      July 17, 2015

      I cannot agree more. It felt so strange to be walking around there and to be hearing the interviews on the audio guide along the way. I’m definitely glad I went though, and I think that everyone should make it a point to visit as it’s such an important piece of our history.

      Reply

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After being laid off from my corporate job in NYC, I packed up my bags and moved to Berlin in 2019. Tall Girl Big World is where I share my adventures in Berlin and beyond. You'll find detailed guides on my favorite European cities as well as my top tips and resources for living abroad.

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