Find out more by reading reflections from two Sixth Form pupils about their unforgettable experiences during the Berlin trip.
In December 2024, a group of 16 pupils from KES and KEHS’ sixth form departed at the fresh time of 1:45am on the joint History/German Berlin trip. Because I am currently studying German at Standard Level in the Divisions, I used this opportunity to visit Berlin to practise using the language throughout the five days whilst we there, during which I learned new vocabulary and improved my speaking skills.
With our trip to Berlin happening during advent, we of course had to visit the city’s traditional Christmas markets, visiting seven out of the hundred or so markets located across the city. The markets we visited ranged from the more traditional settings of the Charlottenburg palace grounds, to the medieval themed market located on the banks of the river Spree, which featured a hand cranked Ferris wheel and firepits. We were able to enjoy the numerous festivities whilst visiting these markets, enjoying the food on offer, including Bratwurst sausages and Quarkbällchen (deep fried doughnut balls) as well as seeing the Herrnhuter (Moravian Stars), which adorned the tops of many stalls.
In comparison to other German cities such as Bonn or Hamburg however, I found Berlin very different. Firstly, Berlin’s architecture was dominated by the numerous concrete plattenbau and other brutalist concrete structures, to my surprise in both the former East and West. Secondly, being more used to standard German and the Hamburg dialect, I found the Berlin dialect rather different too, with many words having different, unexpected pronunciations.
During our visit to Berlin, we visited many different buildings and museums where we were learnt about the fascinating history of the city. At the German federal parliament building, the Reichstag, we had an audio guide which (in German for the German learners), told us about the significance of the various landmarks that we could see from the rooftop observatory, ranging from the enormous Tierpark to the Charité hospital. We also visited the Berlin Wall on several occasions, and it was very interesting to learn about the city’s history from the various perspectives of people who had experienced it, in museums such as the Palace of Tears, who elaborated on life in a divided city.
On the penultimate day, we visited the flea market at Mauerpark, a park located on a former stretch of the Berlin wall, which had stalls selling everything from Chez Guevara themed lighters to doorknobs and prints of maps from 1898. A notable moment that I remember is my conversation with the slightly drunk currywurst vendor there. We chatted mostly about currywurst, with the man revealing to me that Berlin’s currywurst was special, because of their usage of intestine in their product. Delicious!
On this trip, we were able to go to so many interesting and fascinating locations whilst in Berlin, and I would say that everyone enjoyed it thoroughly throughout, even if the weather was not brilliant! Finally, I must thank our teachers Mr Chalkley, Mr Cox and Dr Blain for organising and running this great experience, without whom this trip could not have happened.
With history being so inexplicably linked with Berlin, the trip was equally important from a historian’s perspective. Studying IB History, where the Cold War and Authoritarian States- including Hitler’s rise to power- are key focuses, the trip brought the history that we study from words in a textbook to life. Some of the most striking places that we visited included the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe, a haunting tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. This served as both a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of Hitler’s policies, as well as a bleak reminder of the extent of the terror that held such a firm grip over Europe. Similarly, our visit to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp highlighted the brutal realities of the Nazi state’s oppression and genocide, while providing invaluable context to our studies of World War II and the mechanisms of totalitarian control. My peers and I were deeply moved by the experience, especially the self-guided audio tour, which provided us with the actual experiences and testimonials of those who were involved in the Holocaust themselves. This only underscored the importance of preserving these sites.
Berlin’s Cold War history also came alive through our visits to the Stasi prison and Checkpoint Charlie. My personal favourite part of the trip was our visit to a Stasi prison, exposing the extent of state surveillance and oppression in East Germany, while Checkpoint Charlie was a physical representation of the ‘Iron Curtain’ that separated Europe during these years. Walking along remnants of the Berlin Wall and exploring its impact on the city’s geography offered a tangible connection to how the lives of the general population in Berlin were affected. Personally, I thought that the various murals on different segments of the Berlin Wall were particularly striking. The highly contrasting art styles and content of each mural were especially striking to me, reflecting the diverse social contexts of Berliners, who were yet unified by a collective call for change. Each of these sites not only deepened our understanding of pivotal historical events but also reminded us of the resilience of those who lived through them, creating a truly invaluable experience.
By Lewis (Divisions) and Hari (Sixths)