On day 6 of the Germany Trip, we visited the Cecileinhof Palace in Potsdam. The palace was built from 1914 to 1917 and it was built for Crown Prince William and his wife, Crown Princess Cecile. The prince did not live at the Palace for very long. In 1918, the Kaiser abdicated and the Palace was handed over to the date in 1926.
The 3 Allied powers; Stalin from Russia, Churchill from Britain and Truman from USA met at the Palace for the Potsdam Conference. Their aim was to resolve the problems arising at the end of the war and to discuss what to do with Germany who had surrendered on 8th May, nine weeks before the conference. During their stay at the Palace, Stalin overheard the conversation between Truman and Attlee about the use of atomic bomb. Stalin was angry as he was kept in the dark. USA and Britain were democratic countries while USSR was communist. Stalin was afraid that they would use the atomic bomb on them. From then on, Stalin became suspicious of the other two Allied Powers. This was one of the factors that started the Cold War and caused their relationship to strain.
This incident shows the lack of trust among them. Although we must beware of people around us, we should not get too suspicious of them or life will be miserable because we are very cautious about every single thing. It taught us not to trust people too easily as you would not know whether the person who is closets to you might betray you or not.
Next, we had a city tour around Bamberg. Bamberg is located in East Germany. It is a heritage city with many old buildings when compared to the West Germany. It was undamaged during the World War II. The old buildings in Bamberg were conserved and converted into museums. The government actually bothers to keep the buildings to remind its people of past history. From here, we learnt that it is important to conserve the buildings as they can tell us more about the history of the place. We should also take pride in what we have, for instance the buildings, as they were passed down from our forefather who worked very hard to construct them. In short, we must take pride in everything we do, be it for the country, people, family or ourselves.
Categories: Day 6 · Group Reflection
On the fifth day of the Germany trip, we visited a few interesting places. Our first stop was the Anne Frank museum. Anne Frank was a Jew. During Hitler’s rule, he wanted to exterminate the Jew and Anne Frank was one of them. However, she didn’t give up and persevered to the end. At the age of fifteen, she was sent to the concentration camp and she died there sadly. From the visit, we learnt that we must preserve and never give up. Secondly, we must also have aspirations. Although Anne Frank was young, she had big dreams of becoming a writer. Hence, we should learn from her so that we can work towards our dreams.
Next we went to the Berlin wall. The wall signifies the cold war and separation of Germany. It was erected on 13 August 1961. The East Germans wanted to have a better life and therefore attempted to climb the wall. However, many lost their lives as they were shot by the Eastern border guards. Our learning point is we must live harmoniously together or conflicts will arise.
The third place was the Reichstag building. 
The building was actually a parliament building. When the old building was burned down, the new one was rebuilt with a dome to provide a better view of the building. The old Reichstag building was believed to be burned by Hitler.
Last but not lest, we visited the Stasi museum. The museum was a place where the secret police worked. They spied on people by placing pin-hole cameras in handbags and clothing. We learnt that we must never judge a book by its cover. We must also respect each other privacy.
Categories: Day 5 · Group Reflection
The Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS / Ministry for State Security), commonly known as the Stasi (from Staatssicherheit), was the main security (secret police) and intelligence organization of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). The Stasi was headquartered in East Berlin, with an extensive complex in Lichtenberg and several smaller complexes throughout the city. Widely regarded as one of the most effective intelligence agencies in the world, the Stasi’s motto was “Schild und Schwert der Partei” (Shield and Sword of the Party), showing its connections to the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the equivalent to the CPSU of the Soviet Union. Another term used in earlier years to refer to the Stasi was Staatssicherheitsdienst (State Security Service).
The Stasi was founded on February 8, 1950. It was modeled on the Soviet MGB, and was regarded by the Soviets as an extremely loyal and effective partner.
Wilhelm Zaisser was the first Minister of State Security of the GDR, and Erich Mielke his deputy. Zaisser was removed by Walter Ulbricht, the leader of East Germany, in 1953 and replaced by Ernst Wollweber. Wollweber resigned in 1957 after numerous clashes with Walter Ulbricht and Erich Honecker and was succeeded by his deputy, Erich Mielke.
Also during 1957, Markus Wolf became head of the Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung (HVA) or General Reconnaissance Administration, its foreign intelligence section. As intelligence chief, Wolf achieved great success in penetrating the government, political and business circles of West Germany with spies. The most influential case was that of Günter Guillaume which led to the fall of West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.
However, the Stasi also played another, more external, role; it saved the lives of many leftist activists and politicians during the 1970s, especially in South America. For example, it is suspected that immediately after the Pinochet Coup in Chile (September 1973), Stasi agents organised the rescue and transportation to the GDR of hundreds of members and cadres of People’s Unity.
In 1986, Wolf retired and was succeeded by Werner Grossmann.
In 1989 , just before the dissolution of East Germany, the Stasi was renamed the Office for National Security and headed by Stasi general Rudi Mittig.
Source:
- Wikipedia
Photos:
- Wikipedia
Related Websites:
- Photos of Stasi Headquarters in Berlin
- Read about the Defection of a Stasi Agent
Categories: Day 5 · Places we visited
Annelies Marie “Anne” Frank (June 12, 1929 – early March 1945) was a Jewish girl who wrote a diary while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Frank and her family moved to Amsterdam in 1933, after the Nazis gained power in Germany, and were trapped by the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. As persecutions against the Jewish population increased, the family went into hiding in July 1942 in hidden rooms in her father Otto Frank’s office building. After two years in hiding the group was betrayed and transported to concentration camps. Seven months after her arrest, Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp within days of her sister, Margot Frank. Her father, Otto, the only survivor of the group, returned to Amsterdam after the war ended, to find that her diary had been saved. He had it published in Dutch under the title Het Achterhuis: Dagboekbrieven van 12 Juni 1942 – 1 Augustus 1944 (The Backhouse: Diary notes from 12 June 1942 – 1 August 1944).
The diary, which was given to Frank on her thirteenth birthday, chronicles her life from June 12, 1942 until August 1, 1944. It was published as The Diary of a Young Girl and eventually translated from its original Dutch into many languages and became one of the world’s most widely read books. There have also been several films, television, theatrical productions, and even an opera based on the diary. Described as the work of a mature and insightful mind, it provides an intimate examination of daily life under Nazi occupation and in hiding; through her writing, Frank has become one of the most renowned and discussed of Holocaust victims.
Source:
- Wikipedia
Photos:
- Wikipedia
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabulousminge/497722700/
Related Sites:
- Wikipedia
- Anne Frank House
- Anne Frank Online
Categories: Day 5 · Places we visited
The Berlin Wall, known in the Soviet Union and in the German Democratic Republic as the “Anti-Fascist Protective Rampart,” was a separation barrier between West and East Germany.
An iconic symbol of the Cold War, the wall divided East and West Berlin for 28 years, from the day construction began on August 13, 1961 until it was dismantled in 1989.
When the East German government announced on November 9, 1989, after several weeks of civil unrest, that entering West Berlin would be permitted, crowds of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. Over the next few weeks, parts of the wall were chipped away by a euphoric public and by souvenir hunters; industrial equipment was later used to remove the rest of it.
The fall of the Berlin wall paved the way for German reunification, which was formally concluded on October 3, 1990.
Source:
- Wikipedia
Photos:
- Wikipedia
Related Sites:
- Wikipedia
- Berlin Wall Online
- Berlin Wall – Personal Stories
- Personal Account of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Categories: Day 5 · Places we visited
On day 4 of the Germany trip, we visited the procession of duke. The painting was first painted with limestone colour but due to war and tear, it faded off after 200 years. The Kaiser who was the king then felt that it was a pity for the mural to loss it’s value so he ordered it to be repainted. This time, he decided to paint the mural on the 35 people were summoned to do the job. From the visit, we learnt that hard work is needed in everything we do in order to succeed. Till today, the mural is still in good condition. If one person had not cooperated with the others, the mural might not have been completed. Hence, we learned that team-work is important as we must work together as one in order to get a job done. It is just like the mural. It was made up of numerous tiles. If one of the tiles had gone missing, the mural would not have been completed.
We also visited the Volkswagen factory. It was started by Hitler. He was able to foresee that cars would be popular among the people and the car industry would improve the country economy and create jobs for the people. His foresight came true. We learnt from here, one needs to have foresight in order to succeed. To conclude, the day’s activities had taught us that a leader must have a vision or foresight and that hard work and teamwork can ensure the successful completion or a task or goal.
Categories: Day 4 · Group Reflection
On day 3, we went to the concentration camp. From this visit, we learnt how to treasure one’s life. This is because we saw gruesome pictures of how the prisoners were tortured and killed. We also learnt we should appreciate the peace we have in Singapore where all races are treated equally unlike in World War 2, where the Jews were treated with discrimination. We were disturbed by the gruesome pictures and we felt very sorry for the victims. The concentration camp served a warning from history to prevent the holocaust from happening again.
Next, we went to the Nazi Rally Site, we learnt that we should set long term goals. Hitler was a strategic planner. He planned carefully the places to hold his rallies to ensure that it was accessible to all. He connected the train routes to the rally site where all his supporters gathered. He went all out to ensure the success of his plans. He was willing to push the boundaries to achieve greater height. The last place we went to was the Palace of Justice. It was where Hitler sends those who opposed him on trials. This taught us the importance of fair treatment of all races.
To conclude, these visits have taught us that we should have a vision to achieve long-term goals but not to the expense of hurting others. Ambition serves as a motivation to reach our goals. We should accept others for who there are and not to discriminate them.
Categories: Day 3 · Group Reflection
Nazi party rally grounds (in German Reichsparteitagsgelände) is the name of a site in the southeast of Nuremberg (UGN: 49.43° N 11.12° E), where the Nazi party rallies were held from 1933 until 1938. It includes the Congress Hall, the Zeppelin Field, the Märzfeld (March Field), the Deutsche Stadion (German stadium), the former Stadion der Hitlerjugend (”stadium of the Hitler Youth”, today Frankenstadion) and the Große Straße (”great road”). The party grounds were planned by Hitler’s first architect Albert Speer (except of the Congress hall, which was planned by Ludwig and Franz Ruff).
The Zeppelin Field (in German: Zeppelinfeld) is located east of the Great Road. It consists of a large grandstand (Zeppelinhaupttribüne) with a width of 360 meters (400 yards) and a smaller stand. It was one of Albert Speer’s first works for the Nazi party and was based upon the Pergamon Altar. A very popular movie clip is of the swastika on the grandstand being blasted after the war.
In the 1970s, the pillars were removed. The rest of the stand is intact and used as the centerpiece of the Norisring motor racing track.
Today, the whole site serves as a memorial.
Source: Wikipedia
Photos:
- Wikipedia
Related Websites:
- Wikipedia
- Third Reich in ruins: Nazi party rally grounds
Categories: Day 3 · Places we visited
Nuremberg Palace of Justice (germ. Justizpalast) is a building complex at Fürtherstrasse 22 in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany is most famous for being the location of the famous Nuremberg Trials that were held after the Second World War for the “henchmen” of Adolf Hitler, between 1945 and 1949 for those who were still presumed to be alive. Among the infamous ones who made the appearance were Hermann Göring (suicide by potassium cyanide), Rudolf Hess (life internment), Franz von Papen (Vice-Chancellor under Hitler, acquitted), Arthur Seyss-Inquart (Austrian Chancellor, Nazi Commissioner, hanged) and Joachim von Ribbentrop (Foreign Minister, hanged). It is a commonly known fact that Göring was not hanged as planned, but instead committed suicide by taking a cyanide pill smuggled into his cell. He was later quoted in his suicide notes that “being hanged is not appropriate for a man of [his] status”.
The trials took place in courtroom number 600, situated in the eastern wing of the Palace of Justice. The courtroom is still used, especially for murder trials. Since the end of the Nuremberg Trials the courtroom was refurbished and is now a bit smaller as a wall that had been removed during the trials in order to create more space was re-erected. In addition, the judges´ bench was turned 90 degrees and is no longer situated in front of the window but now stands where the witness box was placed during the trials.
The Palace of Justice was chosen as the site of the trials because it was almost undamaged, offered a lot of space and accessed a prison. In addition, the Americans opted for Nuremberg as it was situated in their zone.
Source:
- Wikipedia
Photos:
- http://www.scrapbookpages.com/Nurnberg/Nurnberg05.htmlRelated Websites:
- Wikipedia
- http://www.scrapbookpages.com/Nurnberg/Nurnberg05.html
- http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/st/~asuelzle/doc2.html
Categories: Day 3 · Places we visited
Dachau was a Nazi German concentration camp located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory near the medieval town of Dachau, about 16 km (10 miles) northwest of Munich in southern Germany. Opened on 22 March 1933, the Dachau concentration camp was the first regular concentration camp established by the National Socialist (Nazi) government. Heinrich Himmler, in his capacity as police president of Munich, officially described the camp as “the first concentration camp for political prisoners.”
Dachau served as a prototype and model for the other Nazi concentration camps that followed. Its basic organization, camp layout as well as the plan for the
buildings were developed by Kommandant Theodor Eicke and were applied to all later camps. He had a separate secure camp near the command center, which consisted of living quarters, administration, and army camps. Eicke himself became the chief inspector for all concentration camps, responsible for molding the others according to his model.
The camp was divided into two sections: the camp area and the crematorium. The camp area consisted of 32 barracks, including one for clergy imprisoned for opposing the Nazi regime and one reserved for medical experiments. The courtyard between the prison and the central kitchen was used for the summary execution of prisoners. An electrified barbed-wire fence, a ditch, and a wall with seven guard towers surrounded the camp.
In total, over 200,000 prisoners from more than 30 countries were housed in Dachau of which nearly one-third were Jews. 32,099 prisoners are believed to have died in the camp and almost another 10,000 in its subcamps, primarily from disease, malnutrition and suicide. In early 1945, there was a typhus epidemic in the camp followed by an evacuation, in which large numbers of the weaker prisoners died.
Source:
- Wikipedia
Pictures:
- Wikipedia
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/euroshots/188704645/
Related Websites:
- Wikipedia
- Virtualtourist.com
- Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Categories: Day 3 · Places we visited
