Richard Huish College History and German students recently joined together to embark on a 5-day trip to Berlin.
They all took in the city’s turbulent history as they toured its historical sites, appreciating the culture of the country and using the opportunity to practise their German language skills.
Staff and students started the action-packed trip with a guided walking tour of Berlin stopping at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Humboldt University and Nazi Book Burning Memorial. David Irving, History Course Manager commented, “The highlight of the walking tour was the Palace of Tears or Tränenpalast, this is where Berliners could cross from East to West Berlin if they were lucky enough to gain a permit”.
The group continued their historical exploration by visiting the German Resistance Memorial Museum and the Holocaust Memorial, followed by a guided visit of the Topography of Terror. They took in the DDR Museum located in the former governmental district of East Germany, the Victory Column, Museum Island, the Reichstag Dome, the Soviet War Memorial and the iconic Brandenburg Gate, symbolising Berlin’s Cold War division into East and West.
The trip concluded with the chilling sights of Sachsenhausen concentration camp, the Stasi Prison and the Berlin Wall memorial in Bernauerstrasse, as well as some leisure time at the Berlin Mall and East Side Gallery before returning to England.
The trip was enjoyed by all, bringing to life classroom learning and offering an enhanced educational experience. Upper Sixth student, Aimée Veness said “I really didn’t want to leave Berlin. Although a lot of the history we learned was really sad, I feel it’s important history to know. We all got on so well and I made some great friends”.
David added “The visit links in with various aspects of the History A Level course including the Russian Red Army’s invasion of Berlin in 1945 and the subsequent establishment of a pro-Moscow Communist government in East Germany. The A Level German students took the opportunity to practice their German skills, including trying to understand the tricky Berlin dialect.”
Categories: Richard Huish College School News
