Writes Rohan D. (Divs)
Red-eyed and weary, we arrived at Heathrow at 4:30am in the morning. While we very much looked forward to the trip ahead, it is fair to say that the first thing on our agenda was some sleep on the flight, a target which many of us (I, for instance) failed to keep up with. Nonetheless, upon landing in Munich, we moved through a brief(!), hour-long immigration queue, before finally embarking on what would be an incredibly enlightening, and memorable trip.
The first thing that struck me was the passive, but radiant beauty of the German landscape. While partially farmed on, the majority of rural land remained natural and held a certain amount of dignity. This was further reinforced upon arriving in Munich, which, although certainly offering modern and abstract architecture in abundance, conducted itself with a metropolitan, but vividly cultural air. The walking tour of Marianne Platz and its vicinity was a stark reminder of the profound historical significance that Munich to this day possesses. After being extensively exposed to the city’s beauty, archaic churches, marketplace (where, just as it happens, Oktoberfest takes place), and, of course, Feldherrnhalle (the hall where the infamous Munich Putsch ended after a brief exchange of gunfire), we stopped for supper at one of Munich’s most famous beer halls, before retiring for the night at our hostel, after eighteen straight hours of brain engagement.
The next morning, feeling somewhat refreshed, we left for Kehlsteinhaus – The Fuhrer’s alpine retreat. After a two hour, incredibly scenic journey in which we even visited a new country (we were in Austria for a good quarter of an hour), we arrived at the Eagle’s Nest (an accolade for Kehlsteinhaus), straining our necks to try and see the actual abode, which was sitting smugly on the top of a mountain. After boarding an elevator that took us right through the centre of said mountain, we arrived at the top and took ‘a spot of lunch’. After exploring the retreat and scaling some nearby rocks (that didn’t stop us from feeling like Edmund Hillary), we returned to Munich and had dinner at a marvellous Italian restaurant.
Wednesday brought a change of tone to the trip. After another two-hour trip to Nuremburg, we were immediately introduced in depth to the dark and scarring legacy that the Nazi regime has had on the city. We took in a few days’ worth of information during our visit to the rally grounds, as well as the trial rooms’ museum. The insight we received on this day was a grave reminder of that impact that discrimination and terror can have on a country, leaving its marks on its people for nearly a century.
After a thoughtful last night at the dorm, we embarked upon the final visit of the trip, one which drove home the dark remains of the Nationalist Socialists, visiting Dachau. The memorial centre was both touching and disturbing; the deep insight into individuals held at this concentration camp was shaking for many. We learnt in much detail about the extent of the Nazi’s sadistic regime, and experimentation with torture and fear. We stepped through “showers”, in which so many prisoners were executed. Needless to say, the memorial left us incredibly reflective and introspective; the camp provoked ethical as well as philosophical questions.
After a resonant morning at Dachau, we set off for the airport. The past four days had been great fun, though at times poignant and evocative. It had been an incredibly exhilarating, and cerebral trip – with this in mind, we boarded our flight back home. Thanks to all of the History staff who made it possible!
