Description

During World War II, Hamburg was heavily damaged due to its Gau status as one of the de facto administrative sub-divisions of Nazi Germany.  Specifically, the Nikolai Kirch and the surrounding neighborhoods were almost entirely destroyed.  Following the end of the War and in recent years, Hamburg has rebuilt itself into a vibrant city; however, as you walk through the city, you will notice that the presence of war still lingers.

In order to further contextualize events of the Holocaust, you will visit the Bullenhauser Damm School. Nazi doctors conducted medical experiments on a group of small children before executing them at Bullenhauser Damm, which now serves as a kindergarten.  

You will also explore the Neuengamme work camp, the on-site memorial to commemorate the prisoners, and a museum exhibition that explains the camp’s history.  Neuengamme, the largest concentration camp in northwest Germany during World War II, was established in 1938 and closed in 1945. Over 100,000 people were subjected to horrendous living conditions, strenuous labor and overall murderous conditions throughout the camp’s existence.   

Through these visits, you will be able to better understand how historical events inform present mindsets and how a country moves forward without forgetting the past.