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Berlin History: from Weimar to WW2

Overview

There is no better place than Berlin to bring the significant events of the 20th century to life. Our WW2 educational trips have strong links to KS3, KS4, KS5, and IB History – studying the Nazi period and the causes of the Second World War.

WW2 effectively stopped the world between 1939 and 1945.  Our history programme seeks to present as wide a view as possible of this military conflict and its origins.  Berlin is an ideal location to find out how and why Hitler rose to power and was able to establish such a powerful dictatorship.

The end of the war resulted in the partition of Berlin and Germany, and this division is still visible at sites like Checkpoint Charlie.  Our WW2 itineraries can easily be adapted to include this topic – have a look at our Cold War itinerary for some ideas!

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Morning flight to Berlin.

    "Third Reich Berlin" walking tour.  Learn about Hitler's rise and subsequent consolidation of power, and the terrible impact of the Nazi reign of terror.  You will see some of the city's most influential sites, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and much more!

    You will be able to take in panoramic views of the city from the incredible glass dome of the Reichstag Building, the scene of the notorious 1933 fire that helped to launch Hitler into power.

    Free evening in Alexanderplatz. 

     

  2. Day 2

    Half-day excursion to Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum, a former concentration camp, with a local guide to discover the brutal history of the site where thousands of political opponents and Holocaust victims were held.

    In the afternoon, visit the Jewish Museum to see two millennia of German Jewish history through the eyes of the Jewish minority.

  3. Day 3

    Morning visit to the Topography of Terror - a permanent exhibition contained within the former cellars of the Gestapo HQ, illustrating the terrors and crimes of the Nazi era. 

    Afternoon visit the Deutsches Historisches Museum, with two whole floors dedicated to the end of the First World War, the Weimar Republic, and the Nazi regime.  Alternatively, stop for a photo opportunity at Checkpoint Charlie and explore its museum, to learn more about how Berlin was divided after 1945.

    Return flight to UK.

Hotel Citylight Berlin

Accommodation

We use safe and secure accommodation especially suited to schools.  A lot of our schools choose to stay at either Hotel Citylight or one of the A&O Hostels when visiting Berlin.  All accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.