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Original poster

DD Berlin/Auschwitz school trip

104 replies

january123 · 05/05/2023 18:46

Bit of a dilemma. DD (15) has been offered the opportunity as part of History GCSE to go to Berlin and then onto Auschwitz.

It's £900 + spending money for a full itinerary of 5 days which includes entry to all relevant museums/galleries/sights. It's not money we have laying around and DD isn't overly interested in going. However DH and I feel she would get a great deal personally out of the experience as well as supporting her learning.

I've never been to Auschwitz but imagine it must have a profound effect on visitors and think it would do the same for DD.

So to the point, should we encourage her to go or save our money?!

OP posts:
SarahDippity · 06/05/2023 01:44

It’s a great gift to be able to send a child on a trip like this. I’d encourage her but if she’s non-committal, maybe her friends aren’t going, or she’s shy, or feels awkward about being with teachers for five days. Can she articulate why she’s not that bothered?

Mila1234567 · 06/05/2023 01:52

Mooshamoo · 06/05/2023 01:33

She means the Nazi concentration camps that are in Poland.

Auschwitz is in poland

Show quote history

I know where Auschwitz is, but it doesn't change the fact that it was Nazi German camp, not Polish. It was built and ran by Nazi. Again, you wouldn't call Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings Japanese, right?
It's that simple, language matters.

Mooshamoo · 06/05/2023 01:56

Mila1234567 · 06/05/2023 01:52

I know where Auschwitz is, but it doesn't change the fact that it was Nazi German camp, not Polish. It was built and ran by Nazi. Again, you wouldn't call Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings Japanese, right?
It's that simple, language matters.

Show quote history

No, you are wrong

You can use a country's name to describe the location of a place.

So "Polish concentration camps" is correct.

"Polish concentration camps" does not mean that the Concentration camps were run by Polish people, it means in English language, that the camps are in Poland.

The language that she used is correct.

"Polish concentration camps" is correct.

Nat6999 · 06/05/2023 02:05

Ds went on his own to Berlin last year, flying there & coming back via Cologne & Brussels on the Eurostar, for 5 nights in a hotel & all his travel it cost him £650. Lots of the museums are free & there are lots of things like the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie & second World War stuff that are part of the city which cost nothing. He is going back as part of a longer holiday this year, going to Auschwitz, the Reichwald commonwealth cemetery to visit my Uncle's grave as well as travelling on sleeper trains & going to Austria on the Glacier express, he is going with his partner this time. I would imagine the £900 will include part of the teacher's fares as well, they usually do.

alexisccd · 06/05/2023 05:03

january123 · 05/05/2023 22:30

Decision has to be made by tomorrow and think we will decline. If it was less money I might be more willing to encourage her but given we'd realistically probably need to stump up at least £1200 all in, it's crazy.

The Imperial War museum nr London Waterloo station has a good permanent exhibition re the holocaust, if that is a possibility.

We have taken DDs there, pretty much all of their great grandmother and great grandfather's families were murdered in the holocaust and they wanted to know more.

(Neither want to go to Auschwitz yet, and DH hasn't wanted to go. I've been and given how horrific it is, not pushed it).

Dodgeitornot · 06/05/2023 08:31

Mila1234567 · 06/05/2023 00:48

It doesn't matter. Would you call Guantanamo Cuban detention camp? This term is controversial and problematic. We should be mindful of what we say in the same way we do about other things (ex. using inclusive language).

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Problematic to who?

TheaBrandt · 06/05/2023 08:40

Polish people maybe? I do see the point.

Dd came home from the school Auschwitz day trip very upset we were both in tears on the way back from the airport I had to tell her to stop telling me about it. No way on gods earth would I go.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/05/2023 08:43

You could do a family weekend to krakow, including the tour of Auschwitz and Berkenham (sp) for about the same price.

If she isn't taking History at or after gcse, isn't fussed on going, then don't send her.

Original poster
january123 · 06/05/2023 08:44

SarahDippity · 06/05/2023 01:44

It’s a great gift to be able to send a child on a trip like this. I’d encourage her but if she’s non-committal, maybe her friends aren’t going, or she’s shy, or feels awkward about being with teachers for five days. Can she articulate why she’s not that bothered?

It's a combination of not being overly interested and not many of her friends going.

Having mulled it over I realise I want to go so maybe we can do it together at some point.

OP posts:
TheaBrandt · 06/05/2023 08:48

Genuinely interested in why anyone would voluntarily want to go unless they were studying it. I can’t think of anywhere I would less like to go.

rookiemere · 06/05/2023 08:49

We we're meant to do a friends trip to Krakow but it didn't happen, flights were cheap ( Ryanair) as was accommodation. Krakow itself looked interesting. You could do a trip for the two of you for the £900 I reckon.

Usernamaste · 06/05/2023 08:55

Mila1234567 · 06/05/2023 00:10

There are no 'Polish concentration camps', they were all Nazi German camps. https://correctmistakes.auschwitz.org/

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A bit pedantic! Concentration camps on Polish soil if you prefer, but I think everyone knew what I meant.
Hope you feel better for correcting me though.

Srin · 06/05/2023 09:10

Swansandcustard · 05/05/2023 19:04

Considering there are other camps still in existence, nearer Berlin, equally horrific, why are they going to 2 countries? Is this a teacher wanting to go?

It hardly sounds like a clever ruse for a teacher to go on a paid for jolly!

DelilahBucket · 06/05/2023 09:12

If she doesn't want to go I wouldn't encourage her. DS is also doing a history trip this year, France and Belgium. He really wanted to go. The cost is significantly less though, about £500.

Shininghope · 06/05/2023 11:10

That is a lot of money for that itinerary.

If I had the time I would take her myself for half the price and throw in a trip to ravensbruck- the concentration camp for women - it’s a very touching memorial museum and has a lot of interactive activities or any number of the myriad of excellent holocaust memorial sites / museums.

I would then take her to see some of Berlins beautiful sites.

UsingChangeofName · 06/05/2023 11:17

Mooshamoo · 06/05/2023 01:56

No, you are wrong

You can use a country's name to describe the location of a place.

So "Polish concentration camps" is correct.

"Polish concentration camps" does not mean that the Concentration camps were run by Polish people, it means in English language, that the camps are in Poland.

The language that she used is correct.

"Polish concentration camps" is correct.

Show quote history

Completely agree @Mooshamoo

PrimaniTu · 06/05/2023 11:23

That's hideously expensive and I say that as someone who paid £1100 for dc's New York trip this year.

Bordey · 06/05/2023 11:25

My word, you could all visit as a family for the same price. Far too much money, unless you are loaded the answer would be no. I'd expect that price for a skiing holiday, not a European history sight-seeing trip for 5 days.

TheFormidableMrsC · 06/05/2023 12:43

@Mooshamoo absolutely awful experience for you

Trainham · 06/05/2023 13:32

The imperial war museum in London has a exhibition .it is very good and harrowing. I had to break half way through as it was intense .never been for real but feel the museum would give a good insight as well as being a lot cheaper . The museum is free.

TheSnootiestFox · 06/05/2023 20:24

I've not read the whole thread as I'm feeling a bit ropey today, but the cause of that is the surgery I had in Cologne 2 weeks ago. Because it was the easter hols I took the kids, and what I learnt is that up to the age of 15 kids travel free with a parent on the German railways. I live 20 mins from Hull so we got the ferry to Rotterdam, were dropped off in Amsterdam (you can get the ferry for 40 ish quid each if you time it right) and Amsterdam to Cologne was about 50 pounds for the three of us. I had both boys so a hotel was about 520 euros for two rooms for 4 nights, and I'm sure Berlin would only be fractionally more. It may be worth a DIY jolly, I actually couldn't believe how easy everything was to book, I used the trainline app for trains and it was fab!

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 06/05/2023 20:40

As a Jew who is increasingly scared for our children's safety, I think every school child should get the opportunity to see the camps. It absolutely has to be seen and 'felt' to be understood. I think the school is charging far too much, it can be done much more affordably.

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 06/05/2023 20:44

The fact that the barbarity was so meticulously organised and purposeful and recorded, is hard to convey in a museum. If you go there and feel how cold it can get you can understand the evil and inhumanity. The bunks that look like something for animals, the design and 'efficiency' of the crematoria.

Original poster
january123 · 06/05/2023 20:52

What is the best way to diy organise a visit to Auschwitz. Get the flights, then hotel and book a tour separately? Im not overly confident on how to go about it

OP posts:
TheSnootiestFox · 06/05/2023 20:58

january123 · 06/05/2023 20:52

What is the best way to diy organise a visit to Auschwitz. Get the flights, then hotel and book a tour separately? Im not overly confident on how to go about it

Yes! We ended up on the ferry because when I checked flights they were one price and then 4 hours later had tripled (Ryan Air) so get your flights and then work from there.