Wittenberg, the Reformation, and a bit of Rail Confusion Day 4 was a break from the Holocaust and National Socialism, although there were contextual connections that were made – namely, a brief look at a pre-enlightenment, pre-biological expression of antisemitism. Challenges on the rails on the way home did not damper what was a wonderful day spent in the city of reformation. The Asisi Panorama, City Church, and Castle Church were the most significant locations visited. Below are a few pics. Tomorrow we venture just north of the city to the concentration camp most proximal to Berlin – Sachsenhausen.

Of Beginnings and Endings Today was our hardest day thus far. Not as many steps taken nor as many locations visited, but the content was tremendously heavy. Before places like Auschwitz were even imagined, Brandenburg was. It was the location where what had previously only been imagined was first put into practice – the medicalized and state-sanctioned killing of other people. The critical first step taken at this facility and the practical, methodological, and contextual lessons that were learned by the perpetrators here in Brandenburg would form the procedural foundation for the millions of deaths that would follow. Our day

Whole Lotta Walkin’ and Talkin’ Goin’ On Our first full day as a team in Berlin brought with it renewed strength, renewed hope for the return of some lost luggage, and over 20,000 steps of exploration. Among the places visited include Checkpoint Charlie, The Topography of Terror Museum, Potsdamer Platz, the Aktion T-4 Memorial, Hitler’s Bunker, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Soviet War Memorial, and the Reichstag. In addition to taking in these sights, wonderful discussions are being had about the nature of memorials, the absorbing power of a desired narrative, the concept of self-deception, the

Arrivals and First Things It took most of the day, but we got everyone here safe and sound (minus one piece of luggage, sadly). Despite jet-lag, dispersed landing times, and rail construction complicating our movements, we were able to find about 4 hours in the evening to do some exploring downtown. Among other sites, we checked out Alexanderplatz, Rosenstrasse Protest Memorial, Hackescher Markt, Museum Island, Humboldt University, Bebelplatz, and the Brandenburg Gate. Below are some pics. Everyone is exhausted and needing rest. Tomorrow we will further explore by local rail and foot the sites of Berlin.

(The students arrive tomorrow.) Day minus 1 allowed me to gain virtually all of the rail tickets we need (took nearly 2 hours, whew!), find our hotel for this year (conveniently located near Alexanderplatz), and do a little exploring on my own. What I set out to find was the Berlin Wall Park and Memorial which is located in the north-central part of the city. This particular venue features several memorials, large stretches of the outer wall peppered across the park’s western edge (a bit of the inner wall is there as well), and many markings on the ground where

Ghost Tracks, Stones of Remembrance, and a Reborn City Looking Westward The second and last day of this trip extension saw Paul and Mary Blair join me for a tour of Treblinka, the death camp about 2 hours outside of Warsaw – where more than 800,000 people (mostly Jews) were exterminated by the Nazi Operation Reinhardt. I shall say no more. Here are some pictures: Then, we made our way to Warsaw and enjoyed a little taste of what this rebuilt city has to offer – a brief glance left me with the firm impression that it (and Poland), though

A couple extra days of exploring in Poland I am able to spend a couple extra days in Poland with good friends Paul and Mary Blair. The first day was spent in Lublin, touring Majdanek, one of the death camps in Poland, and then exploring Lublin’s downtown. Here are some pics: Tomorrow we will make our way up to Warsaw. Treblinka will be toured.

Free Kraków Group 2’s last full day in Europe was a free day in Kraków. Here are some pics: Paul and Mary Blair and I will be spending two extra days to go to Lublin and see Majdanek and then Warsaw to visit Treblinka.

A Church, a Museum, a Camp, and a Concert Our penultimate full day of the trip included a stop by Corpus Christi Basilica in Kazimierz (the old Jewish district), a tour of the museum located at Schindler’s factory, a walk out to the grounds of Płaszów – the concentration camp for the Kraków Jews (and depicted in the movie Schindler’s List), and a concert at St. Peter and St. Paul’s church in Old Town, Kraków. Here are some pics: (BTW, the concert was amazing! Incredible musicians playing Back, Vivaldi, Chopin, Mozart, etc.) Tomorrow is Free Kraków.