Ravensbrück Memorial

Ravensbrück Memorial is a commemorative site in Fürstenberg/Havel dedicated to a women's concentration camp, comprising multiple buildings including a former crematorium, barracks, and exhibition spaces. The complex sits on the shore of Lake Schwedt and features a bronze sculpture overlooking the water.

The site was established in 1939 as a women's concentration camp and operated until 1945, holding over 130,000 women from about forty nations. Thousands died from forced labor, disease, and systematic killing.

The memorial honors women from many nations who were imprisoned here, displaying their stories through photographs and personal belongings in the exhibition spaces. Visitors encounter individual names and life histories that make the site deeply human.

The site is well signposted and features paths accessible to visitors with limited mobility, with most exhibition rooms on ground level. It is advisable to allow two to three hours for your visit to explore the various buildings and contents.

Surviving women established a memorial foundation after the war to ensure the camp's history would not be forgotten. This commitment by survivors themselves shapes how the site operates and shares its story today.