A four-day half-term trip to Munich led by Mr Benjamin provided Harrodian's GCSE History students with a deep insight into the city's dark past, the birth of Nazi ideology and rise of national socialism in pre-war Germany.
The 47 Harrodians on the trip took part in a walking tour of the Bavarian city and discovered the sites that provided backdrops to Adolf Hitler and his followers as they set about founding the Third Reich. En route they visited the Jewish Museum and the Documentation Centre - a place of education and remembrance where the history of National Socialism is recorded. They went inside a beer hall where Nazi soldiers once gathered and in front of the university building looked at the White Rose pavement memorial, a plaque that honours the members of Munich's resistance.
The group also took trips out of Munich. The first was a journey to the Nuremberg Documentation Centre, a museum that provided in-depth information about the causes, context and repercussions of the National Socialist reign of terror. Moving outside, they walked around the Nazi Party Rally Grounds (Kongresshalle) where they were able to see the remains of the huge structures/stadiums built to stage state propaganda events.
They also visited Dachau, which was one of the first and longest operating concentration camps built to house political opponents of Hitler's newly installed government of 1933 and a grim prototype for the death camps of the Holocaust that followed some years later. A sombre and haunting memorial, it undoubtedly made a deep impression on students and staff alike.
We all became naturally reflective and emotional when we visited Dachau because of the terrible things that happened there...but we also learnt about German culture before and after Nazism.
Tatiana, 15s pupil
Respite from the Third Reich was provided both by a trip to Berchtesgaden's ancient Salt Mines – and slides – as well an evening meal at Hard Rock Cafe.
Tatiana in the 15s (Year 11) thoroughly enjoyed the trip which was 'really fun,' but admits there were moments that were less carefree. 'We all became naturally reflective and emotional when we visited Dachau because of the terrible things that happened there,' she says. 'But we also learnt about German culture before and after Nazism. It was especially great how our history teachers led the walking tours and customised them to cover much of what we have been learning in History GCSE - it was great revision! They knew all the answers to our questions, and were seriously impressive!"
It was especially great how our history teachers led the walking tours and customised them to cover much of what we have been learning in History GCSE - it was great revision!
Tatiana, 15s pupil
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