UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TRIP TO BERLIN Germany’s former chancellor Angela Merkel once said, ‘Berlin is a city with a remarkable history, a city that has risen from the ashes of war and division.’ Koutaro Nomoto (Year 12) reports that the 40 students who went on the Upper School History trip would struggle to disagree
T he four-day trip led us on a journey from Berlin’s formative era, through its growth as the Prussian capital, then the political heartland of the newly emerging German empire to its struggles in the latter half of the 20th century as a divided city. Like any good school trip, ours started in the early hours of Saturday. Greeted by a joyful Mr Smith (arriving on a bicycle), we soon found ourselves on Unter den Linden, in central Berlin, for a busy day of sightseeing. First, we explored the medieval remnants of the city, near to the banks of the Spree River, in the vicinity of Alexander Platz, home to the iconic Berlin TV tower as well as some of the city’s most impressive 19th-century architecture. Amongst these grandiose buildings, atop the former site of the Ber- lin Palace, stands the Humboldt Forum, whose exterior is a faithful reconstruction of the original palace facade. Many buildings in Berlin were reconstructed after the Sec- ond World War, in what seems to have been a desire on the part of various German governments to keep history alive for the next generation to see. For supper, we were treated to a traditional German meal, which we greatly enjoyed, before taking a late-night walk along what used to be the Berlin Wall, seeing Potsdamer Platz, an old GDR watchtower in the shadow of the Wall, and the famous Cold War crossing point, Checkpoint Charlie. We started the second day with a visit to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, located just north of Berlin. Here, political prisoners deemed dangerous by the Nazis were kept in gruelling and inhumane conditions, with countless numbers losing their lives. The infamous words Arbeit Macht Frei or ‘work sets you free’ hung over the main gate, reminding us of the grim, solemn nature of this memorial site.
The rest of the day was much more light-hearted. We began the afternoon by visiting the famous Reichstag building, the seat of the Bundestag, taking in the Russian Second World War graffiti and the magnificent views, as well as relishing the chance to see the iconic dome close up. Back on terra firma, we headed to Karl-Marx-Allee, the broad thoroughfare used so often by the communist government for its showcase parades. There we sang an East German youth song, ‘Bau Auf’, with gusto, to enter- tain passing tourists – as well as some bemused locals, who clearly hadn’t heard the ditty for some years. We ended our day atop a former Nazi Second World War flak tower, marvelling at the stunning view of Berlin, accom- panied by the revelation that Mr Smith’s uncle had been involved in the repeated bombing of the city as part of an RAF Lancaster crew. There we sang an East German youth song, ‘Bau Auf’, with gusto, to entertain passing tourists – as well as some bemused locals, who clearly hadn’t heard the ditty for some years Our third day comprised a pleasant and brisk walk through the leafy Tiergarten park, past the city’s famous zoo, with various creatures sunning themselves, and on to the magnificent Charlottenburg Palace, before viewing the artistic delights of the East Side Gallery, the longest remaining stretch of the Wall. After lunch, we headed towards the Hohenschönhausen prison, a secret remand centre run by the Stasi, the East German secret police. Once again, we were left to imagine the horrors which took place within the compound, whilst being remind- ed how much we take political liberty for granted. We
finished the day with a big surprise – a visit to the historic Kino Babylon cinema for a viewing of the classic hit Some Like It Hot , starring Marilyn Monroe. By the end of the film, the number of Marilyn Monroe fans had increased by 39 (Mr Smith being already a big enthusiast). Our final day was spent in the nearby town of Potsdam, where the Hohenzollern dynasty had built numerous impressive palaces and buildings. It is a quaint but vibrant settlement, whose architecture contrasts with the massive structures of Berlin. We visited the Sans Souci Palace, built by Frederick the Great, followed by the Cecilienhof Palace, the venue of the Potsdam Conference. Finally,
Moritz Barth’s parents, who serendipitously live nearby, were kind enough to invite all of us for dinner, which we thoroughly enjoyed, before closing the night with a fiercely contested general knowledge quiz. I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr Smith for planning, overseeing and leading the trip, and to Mr Ó Siochrú,Miss Williams and Miss Clas for coming along as helpers. It has undoubtedly been an unforget- table trip, which I, and my fellow students, are sure to look back on with very fond memories. ◎
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THE ALLEYNIAN 711
TRIPS
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