Thanks to Nat for this report from Ryde Academy. Ed
Some of our Year 10 and 11 students recently travelled to Berlin and Krakow for a History trip organised by the Academy.
This was an exciting opportunity to see history come alive and to visit some of the historical sites the students have learnt about in the classroom.
It was a long coach journey and we travelled through France, Belgium and Holland to get there, but it was worth the trip.
Started in Berlin
Our trip started with a few days in Berlin; visiting the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Brandenburg Gate, the Victory Column and the house where the Wansee Conference was held.
This is where the details of the Final Solution were finalised and it was good preparation for our forthcoming visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.
We also visited the German Historical Museum which was packed full of exhibits from the Roman times through to the Berlin Wall. The exhibits included Hitler’s desk.
Checkpoint Charlie Museum
One of the unexpected surprises was the Checkpoint Charlie Museum which was small but full of fascinating expositions and information about life during the Berlin Wall, including some of the bizarre methods people used to escape from the East to West Germany.
Students were also given some free time to explore the famous shopping area in Berlin, Pottsdammer Platz, and visit one of the Christmas markets.
Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp
After a few days in Berlin, we spent 8 hours on our coach travelling to Krakow in Poland. The main purpose of this part of the trip was to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
This proved to be a challenging but a worthwhile experience. We spent the whole morning there along with a guide who took us round the whole site. We saw the accommodation blocks and the site where prisoners were executed.
What most of us found particularly moving was walking along the same path that those chosen for the gas chamber took. Most of the students also took the opportunity to enter one of the gas chambers. The site also held all the spectacles, hair and shoes that were removed from the Jews before they were murdered.
Proud of students
We are very proud of our students and how they coped with the long journey, busy itineraries and emotional experiences this trip presented.
They displayed great maturity and sensitivity and really took the opportunity to learn about German and Polish history, language and culture.
Schindler’s Factory Museum
Before leaving Poland we also had a tour of the Jewish Quarter and visited the Schindler’s Factory Museum. We also had time for another shopping trip!
After two nights in Poland we began the long journey across Europe to get back to the UK.
This was an amazing experience for the students and teachers and really brought history learnt from books alive.
