2019 Baradene History Tour

Church in Olsztyn called Kościół Rzymskokatolicki Pw. Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa w Olsztynie.

Games in the park while we wait for our train.

Rather early rise and travel to Olsztyn – 3 hour train ride through the country to be precise – in order to reach Adolf Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair. At the Wolf’s Lair, we were shown around with a tour guide where we saw the remains of the bunkers that were controlled and operated by Hitler. We were able to walk along the tracks that Hitler himself walked along in order to get to his bunker and the buildings in which the decisions were made by Hitler and his men and also shown where the attempted assassination took place in 1944. Personally, we found this interesting however had a eerie atmosphere, especially when reminded that we were walking along the pathways that Adolf Hitler had trodden.

On the return back to Warsaw, we stopped back in the town of Olstzyn and entered into a local church. Due to being a Sunday afternoon, we all felt it was appropriate to pray as a whole with not only the Baradene Community but also with some nuns.

(Rachel and Hollie)

After dinner there was time for a visit to the Old Town Square to soak up the sights and sounds and some ice cream. Many photo shoots were also undertaken.

Welcome to Poland! We started our first day with an early breakfast buffet at the hotel – a few timing hiccups along way! Then off we went on an amazing tour of the city on route to our first stop the Polish Uprising Museum! Stopping to look at the polish soldiers monument, witnessing real soldiers on guard! We the had a short and sweet tour of the museum including looking through the model sewers that the Polish people used to communicate throughout the uprising. Then we joined the bus again off to our next museum the Polin museum. The museum was an amazing piece of architecture that was made of sandstone and carved to look like the parting of the Red Sea. We then had a quick lunch stop before our next tour. This museum took us through the history of Jewish culture and their presence in Poland over the course of 1000yrs. We finally rounded up our day with a visit to the Ulica Mila memorial where we placed a stone on the monument. Then back to our hotel for some yummy polish dinner!

(Ella Stone)

The 1944 Warsaw uprising by the Poles against the Nazis was a defining 63 days for the people of Warsaw. The population had reduced from 1.4m to 900,000 and by the end of the uprising approximately 1000 remained.

Below are pictures of our visit to the Polin Museum which celebrates the history, life and future of Jewish culture in Poland.

Students say a prayer and lay a small stone to show respect on the memorial Ulica Mila 18, the site of the headquarters bunker of the leaders of the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto Uprising.

The Polin Museum cafe was popular amazing food including a Hummus bar.

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About to board our flight to Warsaw and another 6 hours. Varying amounts of sleep had so far but all happy to be nearly there.

Group check-in complete… Nice to escape this awful weather today and looking forward to warmer climes for the next few weeks.

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Sarah Whitehead.