Berlin, Germany

Berlin was a major part of the study tour. We spent more days here, than any other location. It played a major role in the history of the Holocaust and World War II. There were also many memorials and museums that payed tribute to that horrible era in European history.

One of the memorials we saw in Berlin was the Holocaust Memorial. According to our guide, it consisted of over 2,700 slabs of concrete. Each one was a different height, but all were the same length and width. The slabs of concrete were arranged in rows, and when you walked through them it was almost like a maze. You could easily get the feeling of being lost. Along with the concrete blocks, there was also a museum that could be walked through. The stairs lead below the memorial, and there were pictures, maps, artifacts, and letters that really made everything become realistic.

A few blocks away from the museum was the site of Hitler's underground bunker, and suicide. It was kind of erie being there. There were apartment complexes built over it, and it was hard to believe that people could actually live there. However, it was ironic because his place of death is simply built upon and forgotten, but a memorial, for all the Jews of Europe who died under his command, is right down the street.

Another site we visited was the Brandenberg Gate, and parts of the Berlin Wall. It was awesome to see these sites because they are relatively new part of world history, and many people on the tour could remember the wall coming down. They could also remember the Brandenberg Gate being bombarded with people moving from east to west Germany.

A third major site we toured in Berlin was the Jewish Museum. It had a unique design and architecture. The artist who designed the building did this in order to symbolically show a link between Jewish history, present times, and future. For instance, one part of the building contains an exhibit known as the "garden of exile." This "garden," consists of high walls, and tilted walk ways. It gives and illusion of being unstable, and at times lost and alone (not to mention a little nauseating due to it's instability and inclines). Another exhibit in the museum consisted of thousands of metal pieces, in the shape of faces. According to our tour guide, the goal of that exhibit was to walk across the faces without making a noise. Obviously this was very difficult to do, because the faces weren't always stable and stacked neatly on top of one another.

While at the Jewish Museum, Ernest brought up a point that really made us all think about how lucky most of us are. We all know the Holocaust killed millions of people, but he brought up the point of the reprecussions it had on the European Jewish society, even today...

One of the most interesting places we went to was the Workshop for the Blind. At first, I think the class was shocked to go there because it was hidden in an ally-way. However, once we got in, I think everyone learned something they new. The workshop was owned and operated by a man named Otto Weidt. He not only employed handicapped people and Jews, but hid Jews and their families as well. Unfortunately, he got caught and eventually arrested and killed, along with the employees in the shop. However, it was reassuring to know that even in a time of evil and complete turmoil, there were still people trying to be "good neighbors," and do what's right.

While in Berlin, there was a traveling memorial/exhibit at one of the train stations. It was a train, similar to the one that Jews and other victims, would be forced to travel on their way to the camps. Inside the exhibit were pictures, mainly of children. It was so small in the cars, and extrememly hot and stuffy. Normally there were hundreds of victims crammed into these cars, there were only about thirty of us! I couldn't imagine what it was really like, and how hot it really was.