King's Ely Senior History Trip to Berlin and Krakow

A group of History-loving King's Ely Senior students were in their element exploring Berlin and Krakow during half term.

Fifty-four Historians from Years 11-13 and five members of staff went on the educational adventure from October 26th-30th.

Laura, one of our A-Level History students who participated in the trip, said: "Upon our arrival in Berlin, we all set off for a walking tour of the city and explored significant landmarks, such as the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism, the Brandenburg Gate, and more. The rich history of Berlin city was shared by our incredible guides, who also provided interesting stories and hidden moments of history along the way. To end our walking tour, we visited the Topography of Terror – a fascinating museum showcasing ways resistance was stopped in Nazi Germany. After this, a visit to the Reichstag showed stunning sunset views of Berlin city and a peek into the political hub of Germany. 

"During the next few days of the trip, we saw many Cold War and Nazi-era memorials and museums, including the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the German Resistance Memorial Center, the 1936 Olympic Stadium, and a fascinating guided tour of the Stasi Museum. The TV Tower was a particular highlight for the group, which at 368-metres tall, provided exquisite views of Berlin city, and even some landmarks seen during day one. 

"After our final day in Berlin, we travelled on a coach to Krakow, arriving in the early morning. After this eight-hour journey, we were all delighted to check into the hotel and sleep before waking up again for another action-packed day. To begin our first day in Krakow, we commenced a walking tour of Kazimierz (Krakow's historical Jewish quarter) to explore what life was like before 1939, and to gain more insight into the impact of the occupation and its effect on the Jewish community. We were then introduced to the Historic sector of Krakow and given some free time for lunch. 

"In the afternoon of our first day in Poland, we travelled to the Wieliczka Salt Mines for a guided tour. We were all astounded by the scale and intricacy of the mines and the vast underground chapels, salt lakes, and chambers – not to mention, the opportunity to taste salt formed in the mines, which was a one-of-a-kind experience for us all! Our last day of the trip was the most significant, as we visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp complex. It was an undeniably chilling experience, which I am sure will be remembered by the group for a long time to come. 

"I was particularly impressed during the Auschwitz-Birkenau tour, as all students showed respect and demonstrated a suitably solemn attitude. Their good humour and positive attitude throughout the rest of the trip made it a truly enjoyable experience. I would also like to thank Mr Currie, Ms Hughes, Mr Foster, Mr Thomas, and Dr Ost for their help and support on this trip."