SHSF Visit to Krakow & Auschwitz - More than just a school trip
24 October 2024
This past weekend, students from Stroud High Sixth Form took off on an eye-opening adventure to Krakow, Poland. Starting with an early morning flight from Birmingham, the trip was packed with history, culture, and – in the most unique way – full of unforgettable experiences.
After an early start, the students landed in Krakow, ready to dive into the city’s charm. They kicked off their visit by exploring Rynek Główny, Europe’s largest medieval square. With its stunning buildings, lively street performers, and cosy cafes, the square was the perfect spot to soak in the local vibe and snap some great photos.
Saturday was the highlight of the trip - a day dedicated to remembering the past and facing up to the enormity of the holocaust. The group made their way to Auschwitz. As they walked through the barracks witnessing the evidence of the atrocities. Displays of shoes, suitcases, human hair, piles of spectacles, clothes - from barrack to barrack, photographs, and belongings of victims. It was a the most sobering of experiences
The tour moved 3kms to the death camp at Birkenau where over 1.5 million people were murdered. The sheer scale of the camp was overwhelming. Standing on train platforms used for selection, walking through the camp, seeing the gas chambers, destroyed by the SS as they fled the camp. The camp is best summed up by the inscription on the memorial:
“For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity...”
After the haunting visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau, the group explored Schindler’s Factory, now a museum dedicated to the Jewish experience during the Holocaust. The exhibits told the story of the Jews saved in Krakow by the entrepreneur Oskar Schindler.
No trip to Krakow would be complete without visiting the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine. This UNESCO World Heritage site blew everyone away with its stunning underground chapels and intricate salt sculptures. As they wandered through the dimly lit tunnels, the students learned about the mine’s fascinating 700-year history. One of the highlights was the breathtaking Chapel of St. Kinga. Everything made from salt, even the wall – and yes, the students licked them to check!
To wrap up their adventure, the students visited the Galicia Jewish Museum, which offered a deep dive into Jewish life in Poland before the war. The powerful exhibits highlighted the rich culture that thrived in the region, making the tragedy of its destruction all the more poignant. One of the most touching parts of the visit was a Q&A session with a survivor from the Krakow ghetto, hearing first-hand accounts of how, as a child, she hid with her mother in sewers when the ghetto was liquidated. The most inspiring and humbling story. It was a fitting end to the trip.
Thanks as ever to Mr Brewster for organising the visit and all of the staff involved.
By Mr McShane, Headteacher
