In 1933 Dachau was established by the Nazi regime as a camp for political prisoners, those who opposed the Nazi regime. It was the first concentration camp of its kind and was established less than two months after Adolph Hitler became chancellor of Germany. By early 1944, some 30,000 Jewish detainees were packed into the facility that was designed for 6,000. Deaths were mainly from malnutrition, disease, hard labor and suicide.

Dachau was liberated by the the U.S. Army on April 29, 1945.

Today, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is open to the public without charge as a reminder of the atrocities that took place there and in honor of those who were detained there, both those who perished and thoe who survivied.

Dachau is located just north of Munich in southern Germany.