(KZ) Dachau or Sachsenhausen?

From what point of view? What are you hoping to see?

Stole the words right off my fingers tony_b. Why are you planning to visit one young julian? Did you have a relative die in one? If so, which one? Did you have a relative work in one? If so, which one? Rather a strange question actually. Which one should you visit? The one with relevance to you.

There's no ranking list for the 'best' concentration camp to visit, your approach/attitude alone can result into realising the importance and atrociousness of these places, both KZs have very well accomplished exhibitions that will try to help you 'tackling' this task. In my opinion it's irrelevant which one you visit, as long as you visit any at all.

I hope you don't find this reply unhelpful, so let me just add some 'trivia': 2008 Oscar for the best foreign movie was awarded to The Counterfeiters , which is based on true incidents at Sachsenhausen.

For your convenience:
KZ Dachau homepage
KZ Sachsenhausen homepage
(both English version)

Hi Julian,

I have been to Auschwitz and to Dachau, and both were just as emotionally draining, sickening etc. I have not been to Sachsenhausen, but personally found that the message of why they keep the concentration camps for visitors is equally as powerful no matter where you go - we remember the past so we do not repeat the same mistakes in the future.

I can say Dachau was incredibly worthwhile to visit - get the audio guide, which really helps you understand the place, and allow a half day at least, as once you get there, you need time to process the enormity of what happened there.

alex_mark quoted: we remember the past so we do not repeat the same mistakes in the future.
morbide irony or pure ignorance of recent history?
Thanks for such a concern comment" There's no ranking list for the 'best' concentration camp to visit"Nautiker
I would highly recommend the book of the jewish writter norman G.Finkelstein The holocaust industry.
what happended during the war -all parties involved in this genocide- is a total human shame, but doesn't mean, money should be made from it, it is another form of shame. there is more important problems and misery to solve today than blame the past.

There's one person missing from this debate: julianjeung, the OP.

I would recommend Dachau. It gives a much better sense of what a KZ was like. Sachsenhausen may be easier to reach north of Berlin but seeing Dachau is well worth the effort.