23 History students in Year 11 were recently afforded with a unique and truly inspirational visit to Krakow as part of their study of the Holocaust. Our students stayed for 2 nights and enjoyed 3 action-packed, unforgettable and emotional days in Krakow.
Upon arrival, we were able to see some of the incredible sights in Krakow’s Old Town, such as the Cloth Hall and the Wawel Royal Castle. Our students then enjoyed an evening of entertainment using the hotel’s bowling facilities.
Perhaps the most difficult, yet unbelievably inspiring aspect of the whole trip was our visit to Auschwitz I and Auschwitz-Birkenau on the second morning of the trip. Our students were gripped by the harrowing stories of over 1 million people who had lost their lives at the camp. The infamous ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ sign above our student’s heads as they walked through the gates of Auschwitz I was an eerie reminder of the cruel and atrocious nature of the crimes committed against humanity during the Second World War. Ultimately, though incredibly difficult and moving, this tour allowed our young people to remember those who had suffered here. The first tours of the camp when it had re-opened shortly after the end of the war, had been led by survivors themselves. It was their wish and intention that this horrific event could never be forgotten, so that it would never happen again.
After making the coach journey back to Krakow, our students also visited Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory Museum, where we learnt more about the man who is credited with saving the lives of over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust. We were able to experience the Second World War from both a Polish and Jewish perspective, whilst also seeing historic rooms like Schindler’s office, which was used as part of the set in the Oscar-winning film, Schindler’s List.
To round off our action-packed second day we were fortunate enough to visit the Galicia Jewish Museum where we had the privilege to listen to a witness to the Holocaust; Anita Panek. Anita was born in Kraków in 1930. She enjoyed an affluent childhood and was holidaying with her parents in the South of France when war broke out on 1st September 1939. She did not return to Kraków until she was in her 80s, but sadly all of the rest of her family died on the way to or at Auschwitz. Anita and her parents narrowly escaped France when it was invaded and managed to build a new life in Brazil, becoming a renowned Biochemist. She told our students the tragic story of her grandmother, who had given herself up to the Germans in the hope that she would be reunited with her husband at Auschwitz. Sadly, her grandfather had managed to escape from a train destined for the camp and they never saw one another again.
Myself, Mr Milner and Miss Occleston would like to say a huge thank you to all of our students who took part in the visit. Our students were a true credit to the Academy. Their maturity, behaviour and conduct was impeccable from start to finish. All members of staff on the trip were incredibly proud of the group and it was truly a pleasure to take them on this unforgettable experience.
Mr S Vickers,
Curriculum Leader of History.
