During the first four days you will do the study part and excursions linked to the project in Berlin. Then you will travel to Sachsenhausen where you will work and study. Sachsenhausen was one of the earliest concentration camps in Germany, built in 1936. German people who were in opposition to Nazi policy, later also homosexuals, so-called asocials, criminals, and during the war especially people from occupied countries were imprisoned, forced to work and many of them were murdered. Between 1945-1950 a part of this area was used as a so-called Special Camp of the Soviet Secret Service. Now it is a place for studies and to commemorate the victims: the memorial site "Gedenkstaette and Museum Sachsenhausen" ("Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen").
Work part:
Although the main task will be studies of history, manual work like gardening, maintenance work and cleaning-up of specific areas of the memorial are planned.
Study part:
The study component will be the most important part of our project. Volunteers will learn a lot about the time of National Socialism, the Holocaust and the period after World War II, especially the Soviet camp Sachsenhausen until 1950. Talks with former inmates of both camps are planned, as well as guided tours in and around the memorial site Sachsenhausen, and excursions to different memorials and places of earlier German history. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work in the archives and in the library of the memorial site. Furthermore there will be several discussions with employees who perform guided tours and are involved in historical research.
The volunteers will work in the memorial of the former concentration camp of Buchenwald. We will do several jobs in the area of the memorial like cleaning, gardening and restoration in cooperation with the curators of the memorial and participate in an archaeological dig to find any artefacts relating to the prisoners. Our work will also include tending to the original remains of the former concentration camp in Buchenwald.
Study part:
We will get to know more about the time of Fascism, covering the areas of racism and neo-fascism. The responsible pedagogical assistant of the memorial will show us the camp, step-by-step, through different excursions. Moreover we will see documentary movies, and those who would like may work with materials of the library or the archive.
Volunteers are going to work near the area of the former concentration camp Ravensbrueck, which was established in 1939 by the SS and became the largest concentration camp for women during the time of fascism. During the 6 years until its liberation in April 1945 about 132.000 women and 20.000 men were brought to this camp to work. Thousands of them lost their lives here. Today this place is a memorial. The memorial is close to the small town Fuerstenberg/Havel, situated in the north of the federal state Brandenburg about 80 km north of Berlin.This project will connect practical work and study with youth and eye-witness meetings. It is planned that the group will work on the area of the women concentration camp. There are many different tasks to be done: cleaning the area of wild growing vegetation, environmental work and investigation work.
Study part:
For one or two days (depending on volunteers' interest) there will be many possibilities to read about the history of the women concentration camp and about the background of fascism. Volunteers can use materials from the library and the archives in different languages. A main topic for the study part will be the special camp, where the participants work. As in the past years there will be time to talk with an eye-witness.
Sachsenhausen was one of the earliest concentration camps in Germany, built in 1936. German people who were in opposition to Nazi policy, later also homosexuals, so called asocials, criminals, and during the war especially people from occupied countries were imprisoned, forced to work and many of them were murdered. Between 1945-1950 a part of this area was used as a so-called Special Camp of the Soviet Secret Service. Now it is a place for studies and to commemorate the victims: the memorial site "Gedenkstaette and Museum Sachsenhausen" ("Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen").
Work part:
Although the main task will be studies of history, manual work like gardening, maintenance work and cleaning-up of specific areas of the memorial are planned.
Study part:
The study component will be the most important part of our project. Volunteers will learn a lot about the time of National Socialism, the Holocaust and the period after World War II especially the Soviet camp Sachsenhausen until 1950. Talks with former inmates of both camps are planned, as well as guided tours in and around the memorial site Sachsenhausen, and excursions to different memorials and places of earlier German history. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work in the archives and in the library of the memorial site. Furthermore there will be several discussions with employees who perform guided tours and are involved in historical research.
Peenemuende is located in the northern part of the island Usedom. On the island volunteers will find an impressive landscape with steep coastlines, forests, swamps, marshland, and last but not least, charming fishing spots. From 1936 until 1989 the region was restricted (for army use only), therefore the nature in the surroundings has developed undisturbed. Looking back in history Peenemuende participated in the development of the V-Rockets and today there is a memorial as well as a technical historical information centre reminding us of it. Short trips with sailing boats to other islands in the Baltic Sea are planned.
Work:
The volunteers will give continuity to the work done in the former concentration and prisoners of war camps. They will work on the area of an external camp of the former women’s concentration camp Ravensbrueck where women had to work under extreme conditions. The actual duties will consist in securing the area, measuring, digging burial sites and also to prove by documents all the work done. Surfaces of still existing roads, walls and squares have to be cleaned from vegetation and rubbish. This work will be done in cooperation with the local monument administration.
Nearest train station:
Peenemuende.
Nearest airports:
Berlin and Hamburg.
Accommodation:
The volunteers will stay in trailers at a youth hostel.
Food:
Full board is included, which means there will be someone cooking for the participants.
Leisure time activities:
Excursions are planned, swimming, short trips to nearby towns, etc.
Further requirements:
Please bring a sleeping bag, a mattress pad, work clothes + gloves, motivation and good humour.
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »
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