This is a destination for the Checkpoint Charlie program
Our first trip abroad goes to Berlin!
On this journey, you’ll gain a unique insight into one of the major consequences of World War II: the division of Germany and the Berlin Wall. The lives of those who lived in Berlin were fundamentally changed depending on whether they were on the east or west side. In a short time in 1961, the Berlin Wall was built, separating the citizens into those living freely in West Berlin and those who woke up to a new reality under a dictatorship in East Berlin.
On this trip, we’ll explore what it was like to live under a dictatorship, learn about espionage, and dive into aspects of World War II.
You’ll have the chance to speak with eyewitnesses who can give you a unique perspective on life in a deeply divided Germany — why so many risked their lives to escape from East to West, and why others did not. We’ll go underground to explore secret tunnels beneath the city and then visit the offices of the Stasi, the East German secret police, above ground.
We’ll also learn about everyday life in East Germany — such as how nudism became popular and how an East German cartoon ended up on Norwegian children’s TV.
Berlin is also a fantastic city for shopping, offering everything from vintage treasures to LEGO! We’ll be traveling in late autumn, getting into the holiday spirit, and visiting a traditional Christmas market.
But we won’t spend all our time in museums! In our free time, we’ll catch a stand-up show at a comedy club, enjoy good food, and explore everything Berlin has to offer!
On the trip, you will, among other things:
- Be taken inside the Stasi secret police prison and behind the doors of the Stasi headquarters
- Meet eyewitnesses who share their own experiences living behind the Wall
- Visit historical sites from World War II
- Eat good food together
- Go to comedy club
- Go to a Christmas market