Out of the depths: understanding Berlin’s dark past, looking ahead to its future

Year 10 History students headed to Berlin to deepen their understanding of the central role played by the German capital in the 20th century.

The 25 boys arrived in the city having studied the Cold War and being close to completing their studies on the Nazi era.

History teacher and Head of Year 10 John Haswell said: “It was an opportune time to visit, helping the boys better appreciate what Nazi Germany meant for Berlin, how the horrors of World War II have been remembered and memorialised in the city, and how the division of Berlin during the Cold War affected lives on each side of the wall.

“There is something powerful about physically seeing the layers of history in a city that has seen incredibly difficult times, and understanding how it is now looking to remember the past while looking ahead to the future.

“The boys were excellent – they really got the most out of the experience, and have hopefully come away with some fantastic memories of their time in Berlin,” said Mr Haswell.

The boys had a full itinerary, each day going on walking tours and visiting museums.

They also took in tourist spots, including the:

• Berlin Wall, the concrete barrier which prevented East German citizens from coming to the West from the time of its construction, started in 1961, until the East German government abolished restrictions in 1989 amid the fall of communism in the Eastern bloc;
• Brandenburg Gate – the 18th-century monument that has often been the site of major historical events;
• Fernsehturm – the 369m-high TV tower constructed in the 1960s by the communist German Democratic Republic.