The liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp in augmented reality

2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp. To commemorate this occasion, Bayerischer Rundfunk has created an augmented reality app: “The Liberation AR”. The app was developed in close collaboration with the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, which was financially supported in this project by the Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft (Foundation for Remembrance, Responsibility and Future). The app uses audiovisual media to give the user a better understanding of the liberation in its historical context. The aim is to provide visitors to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, particularly those who are young and tech-savvy, with a new way of getting to grips with the story of this place.

The AR app sits alongside the BR podcast series “The Liberation” and the virtual tour, both of which have been available to the public since the end of April. It is a great addition to the Memorial Site’s digital education package, launching right on time for the school holidays in Bavaria.

“The Liberation AR” app

The app guides the visitor around some of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site via their own smartphone or tablet, often positioning parts of original photos of the liberation at the exact spots where those historic events took place. This fascinating expansion of what the visitor can see in front of them is then complemented by audio recordings; these clips give voice to some of the prisoners, liberators and journalists who were actually there, creating a variety of different perspectives on how that day unfolded.

The bilingual English and German app is now available free of charge for iOS and Android from the relevant app store. This app-guided tour takes in five stations around the outside of the Memorial Site and lasts about an hour. We recommend downloading the app in advance so it is ready to use straightaway once you get to the Memorial Site. “The Liberation AR” is not recommended for use by anyone under the age of 14. You can find the virtual tour, a link to the podcast and more information about Bayerischer Rundfunk’s multimedia project “The Liberation” here: https://diebefreiung.br.de/en/.

(Online) workshop package

As soon as social distancing and hygiene regulations allow, the digital package will be accompanied by a workshop programme run by the Education Department of Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site for groups of pupils, students and young people who are interested in finding out more. For the time being, online workshops are available instead. If you are interested, you can find further information here: https://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/en/history-online/the-liberation/.