In the first week of October half-term, a group of 29 Year 11 history pupils went on a fantastic trip to Berlin. Over four busy days, they saw a wide range of historically important sights and had a wonderful time exploring this fascinating, cultured, beautiful and significant city.
Head of History, Mr Player, writes:
'On the first day, the group walked into Berlin city centre. We posed outside the iconic Brandenburg Gate, strolled along the famous Unter Der Linden thoroughfare, and also walked the short distance to the monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe. This unique, abstract memorial to the victims of the Holocaust was especially striking to walk through at night. Afterwards, pupils compared their feelings on the monument, including the unsettling sense it was able to conjure of both dread and loss.
The next day was busy. On a crisp, clear morning we caught the train out of Berlin to visit Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. This had held a wide range of different enemies of the Nazis, and was a chilling, bleak reminder of their insane, murderous plans. It included prison barracks, execution grounds, and the ruins of a small gas chamber. After that, we returned to Berlin, where we saw the 'Palace of Tears', a small but interesting exhibition on life in Cold War Berlin. We also went to the foot of the iconic TV Tower and then bowling.
The next day was also action-packed, first exploring the impervious Soviet monument to victory in the titanic Battle of Berlin, then venturing deep into East Berlin to visit the former headquarters of the famed and feared Stasi secret police, which included exhibits on the sneaky technology used to spy on ordinary people during the Cold War. This was followed by a guided tour of the palatial Reichstag building, and lastly a visit to the Berlin Wall Memorial Park, where a large section of the wall is maintained. Pupils had a chance to go along the wall, to feel its strength and scope, and to stand in the death strip which would have once been a murderous no-man's land but is now a peaceful, green park. It was really useful for students to stand and see firsthand such a prominent reminder of the Cold War which we are studying.
On the final day, we visited the 'Topography of Terror,' a permanent exhibition of photographs and information built on the blasted remains of the Reich Security Main Office, which was the headquarters of the nefarious SS, Gestapo, and the centre of what Churchill called 'the odious apparatus of Nazi rule' - where the Nazis planned out and organised their dictatorship and the Holocaust. From there, we were given insightful tours of the German-Jewish Museum, which used artistic and interesting ways to try and touch on the dark depths of depravity of the Holocaust, but also highlighted that German Jewish History is so much more than that horrific event, and that Jewish people have been a lively, vibrant and important part of European life for centuries despite their senseless persecutions.
The behaviour of the students was impeccable and there was so much useful information for our IGCSE topics, and I hope all pupils enjoyed their time. President Kennedy said Berlin is a city of 'vitality, force, hope and determination' and it has proven so again and again.’
Speaking after the trip, Z Miles said: ‘I thought the trip was an exciting and thought-provoking experience that offered opportunities for free thinking and engagement. It was very intriguing to discover new places like the Reichstag and Jewish museum as it deepened my knowledge of politics as well as Jewish persecution and history.’
Johnny Pearson adds: ‘We were deeply moved by the city's historic atmosphere as we visited various monuments, museums and preserved historical sites, such as the Holocaust Memorial in central Berlin: a maze-like structure built from large concrete blocks to commemorate lives lost during the holocaust. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing our textbooks come to life and remain impacted by the city's tragic history.’
Thank you to Mr Player, Miss Russell, Mr Bosomworth, and Mrs Hendriks for giving our pupils an awesome few days!
