Flint High School history trip to German capital city

Navigating their way around the city using S-Bahn, the subway (U-Bahn), and the regional RE Bahn, the 29 Flint High School students' first stop was the iconic Brandenburg Gate. This was followed by an emotional visit to The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial.

The students went on to see the site of Adolph Hitler's bunker, which is now part of an otherwise unassuming car park, followed by a tour of the incredible Reichstag Building, home to Germany's parliament and a symbol of the country's reunification.

Part of the Berlin Wall.

Students learned about the role of SS soldiers during a tour of the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. This was the first new concentration camp to be established following the appointment of Reich Leader SS Heinrich Himmler as the Chief of the German Police in July 1936, a poignant and unforgettable experience for the students.

Later the group visited the House of the Wannsee Conference where the 'final solution' was discussed and organised, followed by a visit to the Jewish Museum, another very moving experience.

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To add to their historical knowledge, and learn about the Cold War impact on Germany, the group went to see the Berlin Wall Memorial, an outdoor exhibition that runs along both sides of Bernauer Strasse and illustrates the history of the Berlin Wall, and the Topography of Terror, in the middle of central Berlin, which was the site of the nerve centre of the Third Reich's Nazi reign of terror.

The students on a visit to the Olympic Stadium.

Students were also able to explore Berlin's other attractions, with time for shopping at the Berlin Mall and a visit to the Olympic Stadium, home to Hertha BSC, one of Berlin's biggest football teams, where they were treated to a private tour.

Katrina Edwards, history teacher, accompanied the students on the trip. She said: "The students were brilliant; their behaviour and attitude throughout the trip was impeccable. Their history knowledge and interactions with the Berlin guides was excellent.

"It has been an educational and thought-provoking experience for the students, and I know it is something that they will never forget. I am very proud of their respectful conduct throughout; they are a credit to themselves and the school."

The students at the Berlin Wall Memorial.

Outside the Jewish Museum.