This was tough to write due to the sensitive nature of the topic, however visiting Dachau was an eye-opening experience and I think this post could be informational for anyone interested in visiting. I booked the Dachau tour with InMunich Tours which is the same company I used when booking the free city tour in Munich. The tour is under €25 and includes all transportation to and from Dachau as well as your guided tour which is an incredible deal.
Dachau is a town in upper Bavaria 12 miles north-west of Munich but don’t worry about figuring out how to get there. You will meet your tour guide at the meeting point of Marienplatz in the city center of Munich. From there you will take a train to Dachau, then a short bus ride to the concentration camp. From there you will spend 4 hours exploring the grounds, learning about the history of the camp and the daily struggle the Jews endured.
Keep in mind that the tour is 4 hours so if you feel you will need additional time, visiting the camp on your own may be a better option. As amazing as the tour was and especially for the price, I definitely could have used more time. Luckily my guide was understanding and allowed me an additional 30 minutes (or so) to further explore while he waited out front until it was time for us to catch the next bus. Another option: book the tour and if you feel you need more time, notify the guide you would like to stay. The tour will leave and you can purchase your own bus and train ticket (which isn’t too expensive) back to Munich later in the day. If you decide to stay with the tour, transportation back to Marienplatz is included.
HISTORICAL FACTS FROM THE TOUR
- Jews were not the only ones brought to concentration camps. The Nazi’s also detained Germans, Hungarians and anyone else who refused to conform to their regime.
- Nazi uniforms were made by the German luxury fashion house Hugo Boss. It was founded in 1924 and originally focused on uniforms. It was a supplier for Nazi Party organizations both before and during World War II. After the war and the founder’s death in 1948, Hugo Boss started to turn its focus from uniforms to men’s suits.
- Addidas and BMW are among many brands who used Jewish slave workers in their factories. Audi, which was known as Auto Union during the Nazi period, was a big exploiter of concentration camp supplied slave labor, using 20,000 concentration camp inmates in its factories.
WARNING: SENSITIVE IMAGES AHEAD
I took the feelings of my readers into consideration when choosing which photos to post however be prepared for extremely disturbing images during your visit. I’ve watched countless movies and documentaries but nothing prepares you for visiting an actual concentration camp. If you are visiting Munich I definitely recommend taking a day trip to Dachau. It’s important that we keep ourselves as well as the younger generations educated on the past so that tragedies like this never occur in the future.