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Berlin History & Holocaust

Overview

Berlin was once home to one of the biggest and largely integrated Jewish communities in Germany.

During this Holocaust-focused trip to Berlin, your students will gain a deeper insight and understanding of the historical background of the Jewish population in early 20th Century Europe, and the story of their persecution from the early 1930s right up to the 'Final Solution'. 

Visible reminders of the Nazis’ crimes are everywhere you go in Berlin, from commemorative paving stones beneath your feet to one of Germany’s most thought-provoking Holocaust memorials, right in the heart of the city. The Jewish Museum offers an introduction to Jewish-German identity through history and today, while a guided tour of Sachsenhausen Memorial & former concentration camp is a poignant and moving experience.

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Morning flight to Berlin. 

    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. 

    Free evening in Alexanderplatz. 

    Optional extra: Take in the panoramic views of the city from the top of the Berlin TV Tower! 

  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.

    Visit to the Jewish Museum to see two millenia of German Jewish history through the eyes of the Jewish minority. 

    Free time and shopping in Potsdamer Platz - from an empty wasteland to a popular shopping district, this public square has since become the heart of Berlin! 

  3. Day 3

    "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, Reichstag Building, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and much more! 

    Free time at Berlin's most popular inner-city park, the Tiergarten!  Why not also take a trip up Berlin's Siegessäule (Victory Column) to see the park from another angle?

    Visit to the Otto Weidt Museum to learn about the story of this inspiring man's efforts to protect the Jewish workers in his factory. 

  4. Day 4

    Visit The House of Wannsee Conference - perhaps one of the most chilling excursions in Europe, a trip here will allow you to see the site at which the Nazis came up with "The Final Solution". 

    Return flight to the 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.