From the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich through to the Cold War and the Fall of Communism, a visit to Berlin is an important piece of the jigsaw for KS5 History students covering the events of the 20th Century. It is also suitable for SQA Higher & Advanced Higher studies.

Following the partitioning of the city in 1961, the Berlin Wall would become Europe's most tangible symbol of the Cold War. Now History groups have the chance to see exactly how the city has recovered since the reunification and been rejuvenated over the past 30 years. 

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and nearby Jewish Museum are poignant sites where the events of the Holocaust are remembered, while the Topography of Terror, DDR Museum and the former Stasi Prison in Hohenschönhausen are richly informative historical visits. 

With an array of major monuments, each of which symbolises a key event in the history of Berlin, from the famous Reichstag building to the former border crossing point known as ‘the Palace of Tears’, there is an abundance of informative and engaging educational sites in the city.

Meeting exam board specifications

All content is mapped against the major English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland examination specifications.

For 16 to 18 year old students of:

So why not make Berlin the destination for your next History student trip? Take a look below for more inspiration.

Click to download these sample itineraries:

Berlin 1870 to 1990

Life in Nazi Germany

The Cold War 

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Tour Details

Berlin 1870 - 1990

Day 1

Morning

Morning flight and transfer to your accommodation.

Afternoon

Guided walking tour of Berlin with a focus on the development of Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany. Visits include: the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Memorials to the various victim groups of National Socialism and Site of the Fuhrer Bunker

Evening

Evening meal at your accommodation followed by a visit to the Reichstag Dome

Day 2

Morning

Visit Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, site of the 1936 summer Olympics

Afternoon

Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum: visit the site of the concentration camp for political prisoners and Anti-Social elements established in Oranienburg in the summer of 1936

Evening

Evening meal at your accommodation then option ot go bowling or free time around Potsdamer Platz

Day 3

Morning

Visit the site of the Nazi book burning of May 1933 at Bebelplatz before exploring the broad spread of German history at the Deutsches-Historisches-Museum

Afternoon

Explore everyday life in East Germany at the DDR Museum. An opportunity to see the Berlin Wall at Bernauerstrasse, including a reserved section of the ‘Death Strip’, with a visit to the Documentation Centre and Museum

Evening

Visit Berlin’s famous TV Tower, commissioned by the German Democratic Republic in the 1960's, with the aim of demonstrating the strength and efficiency of the socialist system. See magnificent views over Berlin's city skyline, along with fantastic opportunities to learn more about the structure’s history and design

Day 4

Morning

Visit the site of Checkpoint Charlie to explore how border crossings worked and how close the world came to disaster in October 1961. See the best-preserved section of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery, a kilometre-long display of amazing murals

Afternoon

Free time for last minute sightseeing and shopping Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK

Nazi Germany

Day 1

Morning

Morning flight and transfer to your accommodation.

Afternoon

Guided walking tour of Berlin with a focus on the development of Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany. Visits include: the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Memorials to the various victim groups of National Socialism and Site of the Fuhrer Bunker

Evening

Evening meal at your accommodation followed by a visit to the Reichstag Dome

Day 2

Morning

Visit Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, site of the 1936 summer Olympics

Afternoon

Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum: visit the site of the concentration camp for political prisoners and Anti-Social elements established in Oranienburg in the summer of 1936

Evening

Experience the best views of Berlin from the observation deck of the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz

Day 3

Morning

Examine opposition and resistance in Nazi Germany at the German Resistance Museum at Bendlerblock Learn how the Nazis established and maintained control at the Topography of Terror – site of the former headquarters of the Gestapo, SS and RHSA

Afternoon

Visit the site of the Nazi book burning of May 1933 at Bebelplatz before exploring the broad spread of German history at the Deutsches-Historisches-Museum

Evening

Free time for last minute sightseeing and shopping Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK

Cold War Berlin

Day 1

Morning

Morning flight and transfer to your accommodation.

Afternoon

Introduction to the Cold War, visiting the German-Russian Museum Berlin-Karlshorst (former Soviet Headquarters) Guided walking tour of Berlin with a focus on the end of the Second World War and the development of rivalry between the victorious Allies. Visits include; Soviet Memorial, Tiergarten, Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Site of the Fuhrer Bunker

Evening

Evening meal at your accommodation followed by a visit to the Reichstag Dome

Day 2

Morning

Examine the role of the Western Allies in Berlin at the Allied Museum, focussing on the Blockade and Airlift of 1948-1949

Afternoon

Opportunity to see the Berlin Wall at Bernauerstrasse, including a reserved section of the ‘Death Strip’, with a visit to the Documentation Centre and Museum Explore everyday life in East Germany at the DDR Museum

Evening

Visit Berlin’s famous TV Tower, commissioned by the German Democratic Republic in the 1960's, with the aim of demonstrating the strength and efficiency of the socialist system. See magnificent views over Berlin's city skyline, along with fantastic opportunities to learn more about the structure’s history and design

Day 3

Morning

Guided tour around Hohenschönhausen Memorial (former Stasi Prison) or Normanenstrasse Memorial (former Stasi Headquarters)

Afternoon

Visit the site of Checkpoint Charlie to explore how border crossings worked and how close the world came to disaster in October 1961. See the best-preserved section of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery, a kilometre-long display of amazing murals

Evening

Free time for last minute sightseeing and shopping Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK

Curricular Links

AQA A Level

  • 1K The Quest for Political Stability: Germany 1871-1991
  • 2P Democracy and Nazism: Germany, 1918-1945

Pearson Edexcel A Level 

  • Paper 1 Option 1G: Germany and West Germany, 1918–89
  • Paper 3, Option 37.2: Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited

OCR A Level

  • Non British Period Study: Democracy and Dictatorships in Germany 1919–1963

SQA Higher

  • European and world: Part D Germany 1815-1939
  • European and world: Part I: The Cold War, 1945–1989

SQA Advanced Higher

  • Field of study 6 — Germany: from democracy to dictatorship, 1918–39

 

 

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