On Thursday 10th October, we arrived at the Imperial War Museum early and took some time to appreciate the outside of the museum. Mr Unwin showed us a piece of the Berlin Wall, which once separated East and West Berlin. We were fascinated by the vast size of the Royal Navy guns outside the museum, which were made in 1917, used in World War One. We then entered the museum and split into our groups. We met our guide for the day and went to a private room for a briefing on the Holocaust. We had some really interesting discussions, from what words best described the Holocaust, to ethical dilemmas of war.
It was then time to go into the Holocaust exhibition. We were given an iPad, to help us engage and learn further information. I think the iPad really helped us to narrow down what we most wanted to see and educate ourselves with. Whilst very sad, the exhibition was really interesting and helped me to develop a deeper understanding of what led to World War Two, and how that morphed into the devasting Holocaust. I personally really enjoyed the personal stories that the museum was filled with, such as Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a German-British girl who survived Auschwitz by playing the cello. Because of her musical talents, she was chosen to play the Cello in an Orchestra. The orchestra played marches as enslaved labourers left the camp in step for work every morning and when they returned in the evening. Because of this, she was fed better food and kept alive, which is why the cello really did save her life. In the museum, there is also a red, knitted cardigan that Anita once traded for food. Her story is particularly interesting, as she was around our age when World War Two began. It is sometimes difficult for me to fully understand the deaths of over six million individuals, however personal stories allow us to connect and develop a broader understanding.
We spent about an hour and a half in the holocaust exhibition, and followed it by a group discussion, on everything we saw. It was a good opportunity to compare notes and share what we found the most interesting.
After a lunch break, we said goodbye and a massive thank you to our guides. We then were given the opportunity to look around the World War One exhibition more independently. This links into our current topic of the aftermath of WW1, including the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. I loved the interactive sections of the exhibition, like the trenches. It was really atmospheric, with smells and sounds accurate to those that would have been in the trenches.
Overall, the history trip to the Imperial War Museum was an amazing experience which helped us to develop a deeper understanding and broaden our knowledge of major historical events.
