On Tuesday, 1st April, 50 students from Years 10 and 11 set off from London City Airport for an educational trip to Berlin. On their first day, they were greeted by their tour guide and visited some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. They also paid a deeply moving visit to the Holocaust Memorial. The students explored the Jewish Quarter, where they learned about the incredible stories of courage and resistance during Nazi Germany. One such story was that of Otto Weidt, who saved the lives of many Jewish people. The group also visited the site of Kristallnacht, or ‘The Night of Broken Glass,’ which occurred on 9th November 1938. During this violent pogrom, numerous Jewish synagogues and businesses were destroyed, 91 Jewish people were murdered, and 20,000 others were sent to concentration camps.
On Wednesday, 2nd April, the students visited Sachsenhausen concentration camp. The visit was an incredibly moving experience, offering a sobering glimpse into the harsh conditions prisoners endured. They were able to view the prisoners’ huts and gain a deeper understanding of the unimaginable suffering faced by so many.Later that day, the group visited the Olympic Stadium, a site with deep historical significance. Built for the 1936 Summer Olympics, the stadium was designed by architect Werner March and remains one of Berlin’s most important landmarks. It was intended to showcase Nazi Germany’s power and grandeur to the world, and the Games were heavily politicized. The 1936 Olympics were used by Hitler as a propaganda tool to promote the ideals of Aryan supremacy and to assert the strength of Nazi Germany. However, the Games also became a platform for defying Nazi ideology. Notably, African-American athlete Jesse Owens defied Nazi racism by winning four gold medals in track and field, making him the most successful athlete of the Games and a symbol of resistance to Hitler’s ideals. During the Games, Hitler had removed anti-Semitic material from public view and even allowed a Jewish athlete, Helene Mayer, to compete. Despite Nazi efforts to stage an image of racial superiority, Owens’ triumphs shattered these claims. The students had the unique opportunity to see where Hitler had sat during the Games and explore the stadium’s impressive architecture, which still hosts major sporting events today.In the evening, the students enjoyed a fun and engaging quiz at the hotel, organized by Mrs. Best, which included questions from various staff members.
On the final day, the group embarked on the Cold War Bunker Tour, where they learned about the protective measures taken during the Cold War in case of a nuclear attack. They also visited the Berlin Story Bunker museum, which provided a thorough overview of Hitler’s rise to power, offering valuable context for their upcoming GCSE exams. Finally, they visited the Berlin Wall Memorial, where they paid tribute to those who lost their lives attempting to cross into West Berlin.
Overall, the trip was an enormous success, and the students represented the school with outstanding behaviour and enthusiasm. A huge thank you to Mr. Coackley, Mrs. Best, Mr. McClenaghan, Ms. Dudgeon, and Mrs. Griffiths for accompanying the group.
