France & Belgium (Western Front & Normandy)
A trip to the Western Front will allow your students to tread the ground where almost 300,000 ANZACs fought and died during WWII. A Specialist Battlefields Guide will provide detailed information on the many sites over Belgium and northern France where students can reflect upon and commemorate the sacrifices that were made. They can also assist you in locating family or school alum war graves. An unforgettable experience for teachers and students alike.
In Belgium visit the Flanders region, including the Passchendaele Battlefield, Tynecot Cemetary and Polygon Wood. Participate in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, a daily tradition that has been upheld 1927.
Over the French border in the Somme region, visit sites such as VC Corner at Fromelles, the First Australian Division Memorial at Pozieres, and the Franco-Australian Museum and Australian National Memorial at Villers Bretonneux. Continue to the Normandy coastline and stand on the very beaches where the allied forces conducted the largest sea-born invasion in history. Under the cover of darkness, a surprise attack was made on the occupying German forces on what today is referred to as D-Day. The landings are considered a major turning point most in the pursuit of the allied victory.
Combining your visit to the Western Front with Paris allows for many opportunities to further explore French History and Culture in the City of Lights. Visit the Arc de Triomphe and the Musee de l’Armee, or be amazed by the opulence and excess of the French monarchy at the Palace of Versailles.
germany
An essential destination for WWII students who want to deepen their comprehension of the Nazi Party rise and fall.
Visit the site of the Gestapo headquarters, wander the expansive Nazi Rally grounds and visit the Palace of Justice where the Nuremberg Trials took place. Students will be deeply moved as they walk through Concentration Camps and Nazi Documentation Centres where the persecuted Jews were processed and detained.
Discover the fascinating history of post-WWII Berlin – a city once divided. See the remnants of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, and Brandenburg Gate. Interactive museums The DDR Museum and Story of Berlin Museum will help further understanding of the city’s tumultuous past.
Enjoy Germany’s beautiful alpine region and interesting historical buildings such as King Ludwig II’s Neuschwanstein Castle and Cologne’s impressive gothic Cathedral.
London
London is a must-see destination for students of WWII and the British empire. Discover how the monarchy and government become a global superpower and established the Commonwealth of Nations. View the magnificent Crown Jewels at the Tower of London and witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Descend beneath the streets of Westminster to access the secret underground bunker where wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his cabinet met to make strategic decisions during the tense years of WWII. On ground level, pay a visit to Big Ben and Parliament House including the ornate Chamber of Lords.
London is home to some of the world’s must-see museums and galleries including the British Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Tate art galleries. There are many opportunities for extra-curricular activities. See a west-end show, spend a day at Harry Potter World, and enjoy the views over the River Thames on board the London Eye.
USA (Civil War/Independence)
Essential for students of the American Revolution, African American Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War and US Politics.
Explore the Freedom Trail in Boston – the birthplace of the American Revolution. Visit the original sites where rebelling colonists fought for independence against British rule.
New York, New York! An undeniable focal point in the cultural, social and political history of the US. The city was a beacon of opportunity for 12 million immigrants who were funnelled through Ellis Island Immigration Station – today a fascinating archival museum. The moving exhibits of the 9/11 Museum and Memorial recount much more recent events.
In Philadelphia, tour the battlefields of Gettysburg, stand in the Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed before viewing the symbolic Liberty Bell.
See the iconic memorials and monuments of the National Mall in Washington DC. Tour The Capitol Building and Congress, visit the White House visitors centre, and George Washington’s Mt Vernon Estate.
The USA is home to some of the major art galleries and museums of the world as well as breathtaking National Parks and cultural icons. Take in a Broadway show, attend a Major League Baseball game, and be wowed by the Smithsonian Institute. Inspire students with tours of historical university campuses such as Harvard and Princeton.
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