Buchenwald concentration camp Historical Site

Address: Gedenkstätte Buchenwald, Ettersberg, 99427 Weimar, Germany

Website: https://www.buchenwald.de/

Hours: Memorial grounds typically open daily; museum hours vary-check the official site before visiting

Admission: Memorial site free; museum exhibitions may request modest donations or have small entrance fees

Buchenwald was a Nazi concentration camp established on the Ettersberg near Weimar in Thuringia, Germany. The camp began operation in 1937 and became one of the largest concentration camps on German territory.

The present-day memorial and museum include preserved camp structures, an exhibition on camp history and interpretation of the site where prisoners were held, forced to work and in many cases killed. Key locations at the site include the entrance gate, crematorium area and the on-site documentation centre.

Established in 1937, Buchenwald held political prisoners, prisoners of war and many others under the Nazi regime. The camp was liberated by United States forces in April 1945 and later converted into a memorial to the victims; the memorial and museum document the camp’s operation and commemorate those who suffered and died there.

The former camp and the present memorial lie on the Ettersberg ridge just outside the city of Weimar in the German state of Thuringia.

• Visitor information: The memorial site is open to visitors and includes museum exhibitions, preserved structures and guided-reference material about the camp’s operation and victims.

What to See#

• Camp gate and entrance area: The original camp gate with its concrete lintel bearing the inscription “Jedem das Seine” (to each his own) is part of the preserved site and serves as a primary memorial focal point.
• Crematorium and camp grounds: The former crematorium and several reconstructed barrack foundations are preserved within the memorial and interpreted in the on-site museum.
• Museum and documentation centre: A museum and documentation centre on site presents exhibits about the camp’s history, prisoner life and liberation; guided information is available for visitors.

Buchenwald Memorial is near Weimar in Thuringia. From Weimar main station (Weimar Hbf) take local buses or a short taxi/car ride to Ettersberg. The site is signposted and accessible by road; organized tours from Weimar and nearby cities are common.

• Allow several hours for the memorial and museum; reading the witness rooms takes time and reflection.
• Guided tours and audio guides provide context for the chronological exhibits and personal testimonies.
• Be mindful and respectful-Buchenwald is a memorial site and many visitors come to remember victims and learn about historical atrocities.