|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| There are many memorials to the Jews in Berlin. The Topography of Terror, with a remnant of the Berlin Wall as its backdrop, showing in pictorial and photographical form the barbaric behaviour of the Nazis; a section of the railway station which carried unsuspecting Jews to Theresienstadt and a vast memorial close to the Brandenberg Gate. All these distasteful memories are very tastefully presented. |
 |
 |
Berlin comes across as a friendly city and there are loads of places of interest. I could have easily filled another day equally exhaustively but had an early departure the following morning to Colditz.
Colditz was first mentioned in 1046 as a present from Emperor Heinrich III to his wife - okay, it isn't quite the Taj Mahal but is nonetheless an impressive looking place - and has also served as a hospital and psychiatric asylum. However, since its first mention in 1046, its main claim to fame was its six years as a POW camp during the Second World War. |
| The castle's latest use is as a youth hostel housed within the German Kommandantur. They joke that they allow people out as long as the bills are paid: I paid my £25 as I would be checking out the following morning at 6am and, for that, I had a dormitory to myself... I immediately recognised the view from the room as being the place where the first British tunnel escape attempt ended unsuccessfully. |
 |
| Since I last visited Colditz in around 1999, they have put a lot of effort into attracting visitors. The castle now looks less grim having been painted, cardboard cut-outs of unsuccessful escapers - photos were taken by the Germans after a prisoner's recapture - are placed in the main prisoners courtyard and there are various tours. |
| |
|
Pg 1, 2, 3 |
|
|
|
|
|