Year 10 History Students Visit Berlin
In Stewards Academy’s first international trip since Covid, 32 Year 10 History students departed for the German capital of Berlin just before May half-term, buzzing with excitement. The 2am start did not phase them, as we raced to Heathrow to catch the flight. Mr Hawk led us expertly throughout the trip, and was tag teamed with our wonderful tour guide Garry, who we met as we arrived at our hotel. Our first stop after dropping our bags was Alexanderplatz, which became a consistent base for us throughout the trip with its plethora of food and shopping options. After refuelling, we departed onto our first walking tour, taking in some of the most famous sights of the city such as the Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Reichstag. After an early night and good sleep, an hour’s journey outside the city found us at Sachsenhausen Memorial, located where the first concentration camp was in Nazi Germany. This was a moving and powerful experience to stand where those who perished in the Holocaust once were, with Garry taking us through the journeys they would have experienced. We returned to the city for lunch at Hackeshermarkt, followed by another brief tour to see Neue Synagogue and children’s memorial, and ending at the Palace of Tears – a former border control office turned into a museum about the Berlin Wall. Another museum followed, the fantastically interactive DDR Museum which showed life behind the Wall in East Berlin and East Germany. We then sat down at Der Alte Fritz for a well deserved three course meal, including a traditional German schnitzel main, which left us all feeling satisfied before heading back to the hotel.
Saturday brought another packed day, starting at the impressively preserved Stasi Prison Museum. Guided by locals, we were taken through the various interrogation rooms, prison cells, and courtyards that would have had thousands of political prisoners passing through in the 1930s and 40s. After lunch back at Alexanderplatz, and battling the brutal heat, we headed to the Berlin Wall Memorial, and were told of the various attempts at crossing the wall Berliners attempted, even seeing the remnants of the tunnels that were dug in desperation. As the sun continued to beat down on us, Mr Drew provided the group with much needed ice cream as we returned once again to Alexanderplatz to ascend the TV Tower. At 368 metres, it is the tallest structure in Germany, and gave us incredible panoramic views of the city we now felt we knew well. I think every one of us on the trip felt that this was a city that we would never forget visiting. However, after one last sleep, our time in Berlin was up. After a short look round the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, we said our goodbyes to Garry, thanking him for his brilliant guidance, and departed to the airport. After a slight panic and rush to make the plane, and subsequently being held on the runway for over an hour, we made it back to the UK safely and smoothly. This was a fantastic experience for students and staff alike, and all credit is due to Mr Hawk for planning and leading the trip, with invaluable assistance from Mr Meehan, Mr Drew and Mrs Sturman.