Week 3 in Berlin, Germany!

Guten tag! I’ve reached the end of an amazing third week in Berlin, Germany! This week was both very fun and very educational.

This week was all about the history of World War II and the Holocaust. As part of our learning on this topic we visited the Topography of Terror Museum in Berlin. The museum is located on the former site of the SS Reich Security Main Office. This was the central office of Hitler’s elite Nazi division and jailed many opponents to the Nazi Regime. Being here was incredibly sad but also an illuminating source on the Holocaust. Outside of the building are remains of the Berlin Wall, another important representation of German history.

The Berlin Wall located outside of the Topography of Terror

On Wednesday we visited Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, located about an hour outside of Berlin. Sachsenhausen held approximately 200,000 prisoners, 30,000-50,000 of which are believed to have died. The reason that this number is not exact, we learned during our tour, is because, as the Soviet Red Army was approaching the camp, the SS burned many of the documents in an attempt to hide their crimes. It is difficult to put into words the feelings that one experiences when visiting a concentration camp. There were times I found myself on the verge of tears and times where I could not process the fact that the things I were hearing actually happened. This was definitely an unforgettable experience that, despite the heaviness of the experience, I’m thankful I got to experience.

Memorial to victims of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

This week wasn’t just heavy, however. Our class attended “The Crazy Berlin Show” which included acrobatics, magic tricks, and dance. This was a ton of fun! The show was in an old Berlin theater, which was beautiful both inside and outside. I’m glad I got to experience Berlin’s famous art culture!

The stage of "The Crazy Berlin Show"