Bayer 04 Women visit former concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau

The guided tour for the delegation from Leverkusen lasted around two hours. The group visited part of the former camp barracks, which now house the memorial's exhibition rooms. More than 1.1 million people, most of them Jews, were murdered there during the Second World War.

"Of course, we made this visit optional for the players," said Linda Schöttler, manager of women's football at Bayer 04. "I think it's worth noting that the whole team decided to visit this place and actively campaign against forgetting. In my view, it's important that young people in particular are aware of these subjects."

The players and coaches paid silent tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. "I think it's very good and important that we came here, even if the experience was very intense for everyone," said coach Roberto Pätzold, describing his impressions. "What you see here leaves you speechless."

"It was a very interesting, yet depressing and shocking visit," said goalkeeper Friederike Repohl. "When you think about what happened here and how many people lost their lives, it's hard to imagine. At the same time, it is an important part of history that we must not forget. It is right and important to have seen in reality everything that we otherwise only know from history lessons."