At the start of the half term holidays, a group of Year 11 students from Didsbury High School took a trip to Berlin.
The 4-day trip was organised in support of their GCSE History studies, but it also offered a great chance for students to explore and take in the culture of the beautiful city!
After arriving in Berlin late on Thursday evening, the group were up bright and early on Friday to begin their historical journey with a visit to the Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum.
They explored the grounds and learned about the history of the former concentration camp whilst reflecting on the tragic events of the past.
After stopping for lunch at a local restaurant, they headed to Alexanderplatz and enjoyed some free time for shopping and sightseeing.
The day concluded with a guided tour of the Stasi Prison Museum at Hohenschonhausen Memorial. The tour offered an insight into the everyday lives of the inmates as well as the story of the former Stasi prison.
Saturday morning saw the group navigating Berlin’s public transport system to reach the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauerstrasse.
Standing at this historic site, they reflected on the physical and emotional impact of the barrier.
This was followed by a visit to the Topography of Terror, a museum built on the former site of the Gestapo headquarters and built-in prison, the SS leadership and the headquarters of the state security forces.
Here, students learned about the crimes and persecution carried out by the Nazi regime.
In the afternoon, students explored the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, discovering the history of the border crossing and the daring escapes across the wall.
Sunday marked the final day of the trip. The day started with a visit to the iconic Reichstag building, where students enjoyed panoramic views of the city from the dome and roof terrace.
Afterwards, they took in some famous landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, before getting ready for their flight back home.
The trip to Berlin was a fantastic and memorable experience for both students and staff!
Year 11 thoroughly took advantage of the chance to step beyond the classroom and explore the rich and powerful history centred around this capital city.