Year 13 History Trip to Auschwitz

Thirty History A Level students went to Poland to visit the Auschwitz memorial and other Holocaust-related sites in Krakov. In an emotionally and physically exhausting three days the students visited the concentration and extermination camp at Auschwitz/Birkenau and the Galician Jewish Museum. At the camps we had the poignant experience of witnessing the sites where 1.3 million were murdered in less than four years. Doubtless we will all carry these thought-provoking memories for life. At the museum we had the privilege of hearing a powerful talk by Holocaust survivor Monika Goldwasser. The talk concluded with two students, Zelal Sigincli and Ayla Jacobsberg doing very moving readings of some of Marsha’s writings. We also did a walking tour of Kazimierez, the city’s old Jewish quarter, to get a flavour of what was once a thriving Jewish community before the Nazi occupation. Thanks to Ms Georgiades and Mr Padfield for all their hard work and brilliant organisation and to to their students for their maturity in dealing not only with flight delays and diversions and terrible weather, but also with a challenging but extremely worthwhile trip.

Mr Holmes – Head of History