Germany Through History: WWII, The Cold War, and Today

Wilkommen, Studenten! Join us as we trace Germany's twentieth century from its darkest chapter through its division and reunification. We will explore topics ranging from the atrocities of WWII to the power of resistance and life in post-war and modern-day Germany. Our trip will begin in Munich, the capital of German traditional culture. Expect to see schnitzel the size of dinner plates, the history-telling mechanical Glockenspiel at Marienplatz, and one of the world’s largest urban public parks. Nearby, we will walk through the gates of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and take a sobering look at the events of WWII, where the words “Arbeit macht frei” still hang. After two nights in Munich, we will travel to Nuremberg for one night and stand in Courtroom 600, where members of the Nazi leadership stood trial. 

Our final stop will be the international and capital city, Berlin. Here we will see the impact of a Wall designed to split one people into two. We will explore the realities of life through WWII and the Cold War in divided Berlin, traversing below the city to the underground bunkers, visiting the interactive DDR Museum, and exploring the history of spies and espionage. As we examine the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification, we will take a deep dive into the East Side Gallery, exploring the impact of modern street art and expression. Our program will work to build critical thinking about memory, history, and how a country reckons with its past. 

Students should be prepared to travel light and commit to full days of city walking. They should also be not only prepared, but excited to immerse themselves in another culture. It is vital that all students attending the trip demonstrate maturity, act appropriately, and follow local cultural norms. As some of our themes explore complex historical periods, students must be prepared to discuss these topics with respect, sensitivity, and nuance. Our trip’s goal is to explore both the tragedies and the triumphs throughout history, and to walk away with a fuller understanding of German identity and an appreciation of German culture.

Students must have a passport valid through 10/1/2027.

Educational Goals:

  1. Study the mechanisms of the Holocaust through the Dachau Memorial and Concentration Camp.

  2. Analyze the rise and prosecution of the Nazi Party through the Nuremberg Rally Grounds Documentation Center and the Nuremberg Trials Memorial. 

  3. Examine the effects of post-WWII and the Cold War on Germany by exploring the division of East and West Germany. Witness how the end of a war is rarely the end of the conflict by tracing the physical and political division of Berlin through Cold War sites along the former Berlin Wall corridor.

  4. Connect Berlin's history of division to its contemporary identity through the DDR Museum and a street art workshop at the East Side Gallery.

Instructors: Ellie Stravers, Christina Rudosky, Julie Rhodes

Open to: Grades 9-12

Limit: 18 students    

Cost: $5090

Local Day: Friday, March 5

Depart: Saturday, March 6 

Return: Sunday, March 14