The History trip to Berlin over the half-term holidays has proved to be a great success. A total of 58 students and 7 staff set off on Friday 12th February bound for Berlin. A good run to Dover was followed by a very busy ferry crossing to Calais and an overnight drive through the snow to Berlin. Arriving at the hotel around lunchtime on Saturday, a very weary bunch of travellers decamped to a local restaurant for pizza and ice cream. The hotel was extremely central, being based on the top floors of a converted factory in old East Berlin. Students very quickly settled in and the first day was spent relaxing and preparing for the hectic days ahead. Berlin was covered in thick snow, but fortunately students had come prepared! The next morning was spent at Potsdam. Students found it fascinating to see the table where the Potsdam Conference met, as well as items such as Stalin’s desk and Churchill’s settee. From there it wasn’t far to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, where the heavy snow lying on the ground seemed to reinforce the inevitable chill that surrounded such a place. In the evening there was a visit to Checkpoint Charlie and lots of photo opportunities!

The next day was equally busy. After a buffet breakfast, students were taken to Wannsee to see the house where the Nazis decided on the ‘Final Solution.’ Many students were especially moved by the information on display at Wannsee, as well as the contrast between the horrific decisions made and the serene setting. Lunchtime involved a short break for photos at the Brandenburg Gate and in the afternoon there was a guided tour of the Olympic Stadium. As well as its sheer size,the scale of the facilities, as well as the history of the site, made this a fascinating excursion. After an evening meal there was a visit to the Reichstag, and a climb up Norman Foster’s stunning glass dome.

The final day saw a morning trip to the architecturally innovative Jewish Museum, where many of the stories covered showed the horror of the Holocaust. A bus ride (or for hardy souls a brisk walk) led the students to Alexander Platz for free-time in the afternoon. Many students enjoyed shopping, whilst others visited the Berliner Dom or climbed the radio/tv tower with breathtaking views. As well as this many students couldn’t resist buying a range of Communist memorabilia – including a variety of Soviet or East German headgear! A meal at the local pizzeria and a return coach journey to school saw the trip come to an end with students tired but clearly having enjoyed their experience.

Mr Justin Barnett

Head of Humanities

A full-size version of the picture above can be seen here.

This photo is posted in the Picture Gallery PhotoGallery.