The Cold War School Trips

Cold War school trips to Berlin

Although the ideological confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States might not have involved direct conflict between the two superpowers, the Cold War, as it came to be known, was fought by all other available means.

Using economic pressure supported by huge propaganda efforts, both power blocks fought for dominance. Berlin, the city physically divided by this geopolitical tension, is the perfect place to explore the era.

If you want your students to learn more about the Berlin Wall, then visits to the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre and the Asisi Berlin Wall Experience are unmissable. Your students will see for themselves how the wall physically separated the city, and the two conflicting ideologies. They’ll also hear the personal stories of some of those who lived in a divided Berlin, to find out how they were affected by the erection of the Berlin Wall.

At Checkpoint Charlie, the famous crossing point between East and West Berlin, students will learn more about the division of the city. At the museum, they’ll learn more about the desperate attempts people made to flee East Berlin.

If you want your students to get a better idea of what life was like in East Berlin and learn why people might have wanted to escape, then a visit to the DDR Museum is a must. This interactive museum really immerses visitors in life in the GDR, from ‘driving’ the iconic Trabant, to the reconstruction of a typical tower block apartment, with all its day-to-day items. Here, they’ll also learn more about what it was like to live under state surveillance.

Why arrange a Cold War school trip?

Bring the period to life

The Cold War had such a huge impact on life in Europe and North America, particularly in Eastern Bloc where socialism had completely transformed millions of people’s day-to-day lives. A history school trip to Berlin offers students the opportunity to see how radically different life in the Eastern Bloc was to that in the West.

By visiting Berlin’s many fantastic attractions that tell the story of the Berlin Wall and life in East Berlin, your students will better understand how the city was physically and ideologically divided from 1961 to 1989.

Experiencing all this for themselves will give them a deeper understanding of why the ideological divide was so crucial and how this affected the lives of everyday people living in the Eastern Bloc.

Inspire them

There’s no better way to inspire your students than by giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in history and bring the period they’re studying to life. This is especially the case when it comes to the Cold War, as this is a period in fairly recent history, that their parents and grandparents will certainly still have memories of.

This means that they can learn about the history from people who lived through it. Certainly, in Berlin we can arrange for your students to meet a former political prisoner, who will be happy to share their experiences with them.

Students will be able to make links between the events of the Cold War and current events and relations between NATO and Russia. It will be easy for them to understand how history doesn’t remain in the past and is often an important element of international politics today. They’ll better understand that a good working knowledge of history can help us to understand what is happening around us. And, who knows, perhaps this could persuade them to take their studies further!

Enjoy the trip as much as your students

Founded by former teachers, we understand the value of history school trips and how to make them successful.

Your trip will be completely tailor made, to ensure that it meets your specific requirements and learning objectives. And we’ll be on hand throughout the process to answer any questions you have.

In fact, we’ll be with you every step of the way, from now until you return home at the end of your trip. While abroad, you’ll be able to reach us with just one phone call, at any time of the day or night. And, with this comprehensive level of support while you’re away, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy immersing yourself in history as much as your students.