A group of 45 Y12 and 13 Friary School students have just returned from their History trip to Germany’s vibrant capital city, Berlin and the charming city of Krakow, Poland. The students remained focused and in good humour despite temperatures dropping as low as -14 in Krakow.
The five day trip was mainly focused on the students A level course ‘Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-1945′. They reflected on the nature of the Nazi regime at the Topography of Terror Museum, visited the Holocaust memorial and the Reichstag building among other sites. However, an overview of the city’s recent history was also included by visiting the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and the DDR museum which provided excellent opportunities to consider the division of East and West Berlin as well as the relationship between East Germany and the Soviet Union following WWII.
After an overnight coach journey students visited the beautiful city of Krakow with a focus on Jewish life in the city. A highlight was a talk at the Galician Jewish Museum by a member of the ‘Righteous Among Nations’ whose family had risked their own lives to save the daughter of their Jewish neighbour during the Holocaust. The tour culminated with a guided tour of the infamous Auschwitz camp complex.
Carrie Cain, Assistant Headteacher, said: “We are delighted that the History Department organised this field visit. Clearly it can only add to the students inspiration for their A-Levels but it also plays a part in the wider spiritual and moral benchmarks for later life. In a world riddled with division and difference, it is important to be able to learn from the past as our student make their way into the future.”.
