And every year we send many groups on trips to Berlin and Krakow, one of our most popular history school trips. These trips offer students the opportunity to begin to understand the real human cost of the Holocaust and to question how the Nazis were able to perpetrate such atrocities.
Of course, since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, school groups have been unable to travel and have this important experience of bringing 20 th century history to life for them. So, while you’re unable to travel, let us take you and your students on a virtual school trip to Berlin and Krakow.
Day 1
Once you’ve arrived in Berlin, most groups like to enjoy an evening meal and then visit the Bundestag Dome. This YouTube video shows students how the Reichstag fits within the government district of Berlin. And this one explains how the fire that ravaged it in 1933 paved the way for Hitler to establish his dictatorship.
Day 2
Day 2 could be spent at the Jewish Museum and the Topography of Terror, with a quick stop at Checkpoint Charlie.
The Jewish Museum is a must visit in Berlin, as it tells the history of the Jewish community in Germany throughout the ages, including during the Holocaust, through both collective history and individual stories. The museum has a fantastic online offering, from exploring the family collections, to personal stories of Kristallnacht and the Holocaust.
The Topography of Terror then takes you into the Nazi system, allowing you to explore how the SS and Gestapo were used to intimidate and control the population. This YouTube video gives you a great idea of what to expect from the visit.
And the Checkpoint Charlie (Mauer Museum) website provides some really useful and fascinating information on how Berlin was divided and the lengths that people went to in order to escape the GDR.
Day 3
On your last day in Berlin, visit the Story of Berlin, the Gedächtniskirche and the Holocaust Memorial, before boarding the overnight train to Krakow.
The Story of Berlin is a fantastic museum on the Ku’damm that allows you to discover 800 years of Berlin. This YouTube video gives you an idea of the range of exhibitions on offer.
The Gedächtniskirche stands in the centre of Berlin as a reminder of the destructive power of war, as explained in this YouTube video.
Day 4
Most groups like to start their first full day in Krakow with a walking tour of the city, followed by a visit to Schindler’s Factory Museum.
The former enamel factory houses a permanent exhibition telling the story of Krakow under Nazi occupation. This YouTube video gives you a great idea of what a visit to the museum is like.
Day 5
A visit to Auschwitz is a difficult but important element of a school history trip to Berlin and Krakow, to understand the scale and horror of the Holocaust.
You can take a virtual tour of Auschwitz and there are even some online lessons on various themes, including art and religious life in the camp, as well as looking at its history and structure. There are even lessons on the stories of different groups of prisoners within Auschwitz.
Don’t miss out next year – start planning your history school trip to Berlin and Krakow now
You can secure your school trip now with a reduced deposit of just £100 and our Covid Guarantee means you can cancel or postpone for free† if the situation means you aren’t able to travel.
†Terms and conditions apply, please see our Covid Guarantee for further information.