What did Axel Drecoll say about the guestbook entries?

Drecoll said entries with positive references to Hitler caused him "a degree of bewilderment" and described the situation as partly "shattering."

Why are memorial sites important according to Drecoll?

He said being at the historical site and engaging with biographies is an important way to reach people, especially as the Nazi era grows more distant.

What challenges do memorials face with younger visitors?

Drecoll noted that students often know little about concentration camps and National Socialism, and the growing time gap creates new educational challenges.

Sachsenhausen Memorial Director Warns of Far-Right Trends

Oranienburg, 28 May 2026

Axel Drecoll, director of the Sachsenhausen Memorial, has voiced alarm over far-right tendencies, citing guestbook entries with positive references to Hitler.

Drecoll reported that entries in the memorial's guestbook expressing admiration for Hitler had left him with "a degree of bewilderment." He described the situation as partly "shattering."

"I wouldn't rule out that some of these are just stupid provocations," Drecoll said. "But certainly it is also that, and that is worrying."

Young People and the Nazi Era

The director noted that young people today generally have little personal connection to the Nazi era. "As a rule, students know little about concentration camps and National Socialism," he said.

Memorial Director Alarmed by Pro-Hitler Entries in Guestbook

Young People and the Nazi Era

The Role of Memorial Sites

Broader Concerns About Extremism

Questions & Answers