Project Description
GERMANY & THE NETHERLANDS
HISTORY TOUR
The Holocaust, also known as Shoah, was a dark period in human history when nearly two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population was systematically persecuted and murdered, in an act of anti-Semitism on an unprecedented scale. In the years between 1941 and 1945, German forces and its allies – known as the Nazi forces – invaded and imprisoned Jews in twenty countries across Europe and Africa. In the meantime, the World War II was raging around the globe contributing to it being the deadliest conflict in human history, lasting for over 6 years (1939 to 1945).
On this tour, you will visit some of the places that were first-hand testimonies of these horrific times and learn about its victims as well as its heroes.
How can we learn from these terrible acts and ensure that that they never occur again?
Welcome to Germany!
DAY
1
ARRIVAL IN MUNICH
Arrival at Munich airport and private transfer to your hotel for the check-in.
In the late afternoon, immerse yourself in the city’s rich 860-year history with a guided walking tour, featuring the enchanting Glockenspiel performance at the New Town Hall (available from March to October).
In the evening, enjoy a delightful welcome dinner before returning to your hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY
2
MUNICH: LEARN ABOUT THE RISE OF NAZISM
After breakfast, you will join your local tour guide to explore the early events that led to the rise of National Socialism, Adolf Hitler, and the Third Reich. On May 25th, 1913, Adolf Hitler arrived in Munich for the first time. From the party’s creation in 1920 until the end of World War II, Munich served as the heart of the Nazi organization. In 1934, Hitler designated Munich as the ‘Capital of the Movement.’
The tour is divided into two parts. The first part delves into the origins and significance of Nazi symbolism, ideology, antisemitism, propaganda, and the destruction that took place in Munich. The second part covers the life of Adolf Hitler in chronological order, from his birth in 1889 to his appointment as Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Additionally, we will discuss key events that occurred in Munich during the late 1930s and view some original Nazi architecture.
In the afternoon, you will meet your guide and transfer to Dachau to visit the site of Nazi Germany’s first concentration camp. This location now serves as a museum and permanent memorial to the Holocaust. After the visit, you will return to your hotel for the night.
DAY
3
NUREMBERG: WHERE JUSTICE WAS DONE
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and be transferred to the train station, to board the train to Nuremberg. After arriving at the station, you will visit the Nuremberg Trials Memorial, where the ground-breaking post-World War II trials took place during which former Nazi leaders were tried and convicted as war criminals by the Allies´ International Tribunal.
You will then continue your journey to Berlin by train where you will check into your hotel. Overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY
4
BERLIN: GAINING INSIGHTS INTO THE FINAL SOLUTION: FROM IDEOLOGY TO IMPLEMENTATION
After breakfast, immerse yourself in the heart of darkness with an in-depth exploration of the strategic masterminds and bureaucratic machinery that sustained the Third Reich’s malevolent legacy.
Trace the paths of both perpetrators and bystanders to places such as the unsettlingly ordinary Wannsee Villa, where the Final Solution was devised over cognac and cigars by well-dressed men. Witness Platform 17, the departure point for countless souls on their way to unimaginable horrors. Honor the memory of all who perished at the sterile locations where racial science, social engineering, and efficiency metrics facilitated assembly-line brutality on an incomprehensible scale.
You will also visit the Holocaust Memorial, also known as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. Return to your hotel for the night.
DAY
5
BERLIN: A DAY AT A CONCENTRATION CAMP
After breakfast, join your expert tour guide for a daunting tour of Ravensbrück, the largest women’s concentration camp of WWII, for an unflinching exploration of one of history’s darkest chapters.
You will be guided through the haunting remains of this vast complex and uncover the stories of over 120,000 women and children imprisoned here, gaining insight into the resilience of the human spirit.
We delve into Ravensbrück’s horrific past, confronting the grim realities of the atrocities endured while learning about the roles of prisoners, guards, and administrators.
Evening at your leisure. Return to your hotel for the night.
DAY
6
OSNABRUCK: THE CITY OF PEACE
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the train station to board your train to Osnabruck. Arriving to your destination you will check into your hotel and meet your expert local guide for a walking tour of the city. You will learn about the peace of Westphalia, an historical treaty signed in 1648, often regarded as the foundation of modern international law, as it introduced the concept of sovereign states operating as equals, with the right to self-determination and the ability to govern without external interference. This framework laid the groundwork for the international system of nation-states and influenced the development of diplomatic practices, international treaties, and the norms governing international relations today.
Evening at your leisure. Return to your hotel for the night.
DAY
7
AMSTERDAM: WELCOME TO THE NETHERLANDS
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and transfer to the train station to board your train to the Netherlands or the “Low Lands”, as it is the lowest-lying country in Europe, with almost a third of its territory below sea level. Upon your arrival in Amsterdam, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Afterwards, hop on a boat for a guided tour that offers an excellent overview of this rivercentric city.
DAY
8
AMSTERDAM: JEWISH HISTORY DURING WORLD WAR 2 AND RESISTANCE
After breakfast, meet your local guide and begin your day with a stop at the Hollandse Schouwburg, the Jewish theater where thousands of Jews were sent to the concentration camps. Walk through the Jewish Quarter, visit the Jewish Historical Museum, the Holocaust Memorial Walk and the Memorial of Auschwitz, created by Dutch writer and artist Jan Wolkers in memory of the many victims of Auschwitz.
In the afternoon, you will visit the fascinating Dutch Resistance Museum (Versetzmuseum), which chronicles the everyday life and historic events of the German occupation during World War II and the extraordinary courage and heroism of the Dutch people.
Your sightseeing will end with a visit to the Anne Frank’s House, where Anne Frank lived when the Nazis occupied Holland during World War II. Discover what life was like for Anne and other Jews during the occupation of the Netherlands by the Germans. Gain insights into her renowned diary, the February Strike, and the Dutch Hunger Winter.
In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner to end your trip on a happy note. Return to your hotel for the night
DAY
9
GOODBYE THE NETHERLANDS
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and be transferred to the airport to board your flight back home. End of our services.
