"Necessity is the mother of invention" - Aesop

The Castello in Milan held a great museum with quite a few exhibits.  While these exhibits alone had nothing to do with the escaping Nazis, and arguably nothing to do with our actual study of the Nazi Trail; one exhibit provided some context to our trip.  In the furniture exhibit, there was a set of chairs that were embroidered with different fables coming from Aesop, and on of these vignettes portraid was the fable known as the "Crow and the Pitcher".  In this specific fable, a thirsty crow comes across a pitcher of water, but the water level is far to low for the crow to actually drink it.  Therefore the crow dropped pebbles into the pitcher making the water level rise to a reachable point so that he could drink from it.  That crows ability to think on its feet made it so that he could survive and satisfy his thirst.

Now what does that fable have to do with Nazi officials like Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele?  Well, if you think about it, you can draw a parallel from the crow and the pitcher to the Nazis and their "Rat Line".  The Nazis knew that they needed to escape persecution from the allied forces in order to facilitate their personal survival much the like the crow needed to drink from the pitcher of water in order to quench its thirst.  The Nazi war criminals are really no different than the Crow in the fable trying to survive.  They had an obstacle they needed to overcome, so they found a way to do so.  The crow dropped pebbles, the Nazis set up a "Rat Line" with the help of various actors ranging from foreign nationals to the individuals in the Roman Catholic Church.  Each asset the Nazis came up with on their so called "Nazi Trail" to freedom is the equivalent to a pebble the crow dropped in pitcher.  Therefore, because of the need to survive, the Nazis (the Crow) and the people who believed in the Nazi ideal (the Pebbles) were able to make the metaphorical water level rise in the metaphorical pitcher (the Escape) so that they could reach the water (Argentina).

To tie this into our trial,  the Grand Jury chose to indict not the Crows, but the pebbles that helped the crows.


- Jeff Zuckerman (Group 1)

Maria Dolens bell

On the Nazi Trail has been an amazing trip with both education and fun integrated into the class. There is not one single day that went by without us learning some kind of fact or interesting history about buildings /artifacts.
In this trip we went to many castles in Italy and saw various forms of arts. I have to say that the most common muse in each gallery included religion such as Mary and Christ, but each painting was different! We went through so many art galleries that we are art-out at this point in time. However, whenever we were presented with the opportunity to go see more art such as the fiasco in the tower of a castle in Trento, we took it voluntarily because it is a great opportunity. 
In that same castle I learned more about the use of it that had me in complete shock. Giancarlo walk me through what appeared to be a beautiful backyard and translate what the stone marking meant. It was to my amazement, to find out that each rock represented the location where some captured Italians were killed. In each stone, the name and form of death (shot/hung) was engraved. They also had photographs of the actions! How morbid is that? To actually document someone’s death!
On our way to Verona we had made two more stops along the way, one at an Italian soldier memorial and another at a world peace bell name Maria Dolens. This two places had a huge impact on me because it is at the memorial that I found out that Giancarlo actually served in the Army in Italy which made me understand more his views of the military and I couldn’t believe that I set foot at an Italian Military memorial before I’ve had a chance to visit Arlington cemetery in WA, D.C. I’m still honor to learn about other country’s military and how many of them like ours remain MIA and how many of them were also KIA. We, no matter of race/ethnicity/or birthplace are all humans fighting for some cause such as freedom or other…
This brings us to the next stop at the Maria Dolens bell that stands for world peace. This bell has one goal in mind which leaves hope of someday reaching world peace as a whole. How amazing is that? I never knew such a bell existed. I’ve learned so much from this trip and I feel privileged to have shared this with all my student colleagues and staff members that did a great job setting this whole trip up.

-Rosa Chavez
Group 1

Nobles & Peasants

We have done a lot of fun things on this trip and seen so many amazing sights.  One of the ones that really was interesting for me were the frescoes that not everybody got to see at the castle in Trento.  We were given the option of going back to the castle that we had just seen to see an extra room that they don't let just anyone walk into.  We were given little audio devices and walked down this awesome little corridor that looked like it belonged in a movie.  We ended up in this small-ish room with very large beautifully preserved frescoes on all of the walls.  The audio device started out with April.  It told us that the peasants are always smaller than the nobles even if the nobles are closer in the fresco, and the nobles are always pictured in pairs or groups and the peasants are usually alone, working hard.  Also the peasants and the nobles are always separated by trees or a fence or some sort of partition.  I thought it was interesting that in one of the months one of the nobles who was a church figure was pictured with a female....but the female had a beard because it wouldn't be proper to put a church figure with a pretty girl!  My favorite month was January because they were having a snowball fight! It was sad though because one month was missing.  They think it's because it was painted on the wooden staircase cover that burned down in a fire.  The girls I was with and I almost didn't go back to the castle because we almost weren't done with our lunch but I'm glad that we did go back!
--Naomi (Part of Keni and Tyler's team)

5 Terre

Today is the last day of the trail and i have to say that we have seen and been to many beautiful places. Out of those places, I want to share that my favorite one is 5 Terre! The area has five main towns, which all have a beautiful view of the bay and there are many things to do there. 5 Terre is a most see when you come to Italy! Even though, it didn't have a relation to the nazi trail, it has history of World War 2.  On another note, I would like to share that this trip´s value outweighs the cost. It has been an incradToday is the last day of the trail and i have to say that we have seen and been to beautiful places. Out of the many places, I want to share that my favoorite one is 5 Terre! The area has five main towns, which all have a beautiful view of the bay and there are many things to do there. This a most see when you come to Italy! Even thogh, it didn´t have a relation to the nazi trail, it has history of World War 2.  On another note, I would like to share that this trip´s value outweigh the cost. It has been an incredible experience, but it's time to head back home, and share the good memories with friens and family.  I will not miss having to pay for a cup of water everywhere i go! good-bye Europe..hello America!  -Laura

Our final post!

I can’t believe that we are at the end of our trip! It has been an amazing learning experience. The last several days have been a success. We spent a day in Milan on Saturday and saw a wonderful museum with “The Kiss” by Hayes, which is one of my favorite paintings. There isn’t a lot of documented history on the Nazis in Milan but there is a lot of history still. Milan was not my favorite city because it is dirty and touristy, but there was still a lot of really cool history.

My favorite part of Milan was attending mass at the Duomo. It is beautiful and I have never heard a mass performed in Italian. I was a little "erked" by the tourists in there during the service, but it was still a beautiful place to be. 

From Milan, we went to Genova for one night and then off to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a beautiful place. We stayed in Riomaggiore, a city in Cinque Terre. We spent some time seeing the old churches of the towns. We spent a great deal of time trying to find our way through the cities as well!

We also decided on who is being charged while in Cinque Terre. I believe that we made some pretty good choices and these will make for an interesting trial. I am a judge so I am looking forward to hearing the arguments from the prosecution and defense and making our decision.

Overall this trip has been fantastic. I have had a great time, met great people, and learned so much about the Nazis and WWII. I hope that they run this trip again in the future because I can’t wait for others to have the same great experience that I had.

Eric's Blog

It has been a while since I have last posted and a lot has happened since then as well. We have been to a lot of amazing places and seen some really cool things. Most of the trip has been spent in Italy which is honestly what I have looked forward to the most. The history that we've seen is amazing and I have learned a lot on this trip. Seeing all of the places that the various Nazi officials stayed at and went through is awesome. We got to see a hotel that Eichmann and Mengele stopped at was pretty incredible and I really enjoyed that. Though it wasn't related to the trip, the maritime museum was awesome to see. I love sailing and seeing the history of it all was fantastic. Cinque Terre was probably my favorite part of the trip simply based on the fact that the views were all gorgeous and the experiences were fabulous as well. I am not looking forward to going home because everything here has been amazing and I don't want to go back to the real world. That being said, I am excited to see how the trial works out and see what the judges decide and how they vote.

What a Trip!

Wow! I cannot believe that our trip is almost over! It has been an unforgettable couple of weeks, and I have learned and seen more than I ever could have imagined. We are now in the Italian seaport town of Genova which has a unique feel compared to the other cities we have visited in Italy. I am really enjoying the large city  with a town-like atmosphere that comes with many coastal cities. Genova is the last stop on the Nazi Trail, and we were able to visit the old hotel where Nazi fugitives, Mengele and Eichmann stayed the night before boarding their ship for Argentina. They chose this particular hotel because it was just down the street from a church where they could run for sanctuary if Allied forces tried to arrest them. I am looking forward to finishing up my research and preparing for trial when we get back to Utah. In my opinion, the people we chose to indict were good choices, as they will make interesting cases for both the prosecution as well as the defense. I have loved Europe so much and I am not sure I am ready to leave yet. This trip has been fantastic, and I have loved getting to know everyone and sharing this experience with some friends. I am sure that I will remember The Nazi Trail for the rest of my life!

Caio!

--Tom

Things I wondered about on this trip for Brett, Eric and Angela's Group

There were a lot of things that I pondered while I was on this trip, some of which was before this trip and some was brought up while on this trip and while reading the different books about the Nazis and how they escaped and who helped them to escape, etc. One thing I wondered was why Mussolini joined the Allied Forces when he was a dictator and so was Hitler. I would have thought that it would make more sense if Mussolini joined up with Hitler. Also, why would people be willing to help the Nazis escape prosecution from all of the horrible things they had done? Were they under the "spell" still or are they just sick human beings in general? I wanted to know what reason the Catholic church had for helping the Nazis. I wouldn't want to be involved with something so terrible if I was a well-known religion and famous like the Pope and different members of the Catholic church. I also wonder why people are saying that the Holocaust never happened when we have evidence proving otherwise and there is even a class about it that my fellow classmates and I are taking that is called "On the Nazi Trail" meaning that the Nazi's would have to be running away from something bad that they did, aka the Holocaust and the murdering of millions and millions of Jews.

~Angela E.

Blog written by Angela E. for Brett, Eric and Angela's group

This trip has been incredible. I have had so much fun and love how beautiful Europe is. The castles are fun, I just wish there would be tour guides to tell us about them so that we didn't have to try to figure out what the Italian words were. I also love how almost anywhere we go, we can find something that relates to history, even though it may not relate to World War II. I love how full of history Europe is compared to America. So much has happened here and I love seeing the places that people like Mengele and Eichmann stayed before they left Europe to go to Argentina. Although I had a lot of fun in Europe on this trip,

Cinque Terre

Wow, what a busy last few weeks! I can't believe that we are already preparing to head back to Utah. I still feel like we just landed in Munich and were beginning our journey. After visiting many museums and memorials and learning about the rich and complex history of Europe, we were given two free days in Cinque Terre.

This region is along the northwest coast of Italy, and is spotted with little towns that wind their ways up steep mountains. It's an absolutely beautiful area full of hiking trails and boating options. While there we fully utilized their food and shopping options. We were lucky to get fresh sea food and pasta, and boy was it delicious. Italy is really making it hard for me to make wise eating options. The stuff that's bad for you is always the best tasting.

Our second and final day there Kirby, Molly, Adriana and I decided to take the Ferry around the coast. For just 22 euro we were able to visit all the towns along the coast and explore. How lucky, to be able to go out in the ocean and view the coast. The weather was beautiful and the air smelt fresh and salty. My favorite kind of weather. While boating we actually came across a pod of dolphins! Seeing dolphins in the wild is always an exciting experience, and every passenger on the ferry ran over to one side of the boat to catch a glimpse of them. There were so many! They were all just swimming along, occasionally jumping out of the water, much to the delight of the passengers.

I am so thankful for this experience. I've seen and learned more on this trip that I thought possible, and I loved every second of it! I've grown a lot from this experience, and am going to use this knowledge to help better myself and to expand my horizons. You can never learn enough! And I embrace learning the most I can.

It's bittersweet heading home tomorrow, but everything must end. I am glad I went on this trip and am looking forward to our court case hearing once we return to Utah! Being a judge will make this experience even better, in my opinion. Listening to the reasoning behind my classmates arguments will surely be interesting and entertaining.

Ciao from Genova!

-Keni

Well, this is the last day of our trip. I've had a lot of fun over the last sixteen days, but I'm ready to go home. I feel like I've gained a lot from this trip, including some self confidence that I didn't have before. Not sure what else to say, so I'll just end my blog here. This has been the experience of a lifetime, and I'm very glad it happened.

Molly, Ali and Justin

Last day on the nazi trail in Genova. This experience has been life changing in many ways. We have had good times and some different times but overall we have been able to learn from them. Cinque terre was my favorite because of the distinct culture and beauty that was unlike any other city. Being on the coast refreshed our spirts. Even though it was difficult to experience the devastation that the holocaust caused our appreciation has grown more to be able to experience the path that they endured. I think the trial with solidify these experiences even more by linking the connections that we learned in Europe.

Dominique's Post!

We have recently visited many different sites including the Peace Bell Memorial. It was exciting to see the largest ringing bell with a beautiful landscape in the background. The site included a pictorial history of the bell which shows the two original castings of the bell. It was interesting to see all the different countries that have come together for a good cause.
A couple days later on the bus we discussed how Lombroso's positivist theory helped contribute to the theories exercised by Hitler and others. It was interesting to discuss a theory I have recently learned about in my Punishment class to a significant piece of history, I just wish it would have been a positive piece of history.
This morning we attended mass in Milan's Duomo. It was beautiful with the paintings, candles, and amazing architecture. I personally am not Catholic but it was a beautiful service and well worth the experience. I heard from a fellow student that the Duomo in Milan took 150 years to build.

Blog Entry 2 - Kirby Bednarik (Group Kirby, Laura, Colton)

After leaving Austria we entered Italy, in the first couple of places we stayed German was primarily spoken but as we traveled more south, to Milan, Italian started appearing more and more. There is a definite change in the cleanliness of the cities as well as the places to stay the more Italian influence there is. As Giancarlo says "Italians are not clean people". The countryside of Bolzano along with the winding roads in the Dolomites were a fabulous way to see the Italian Alps which are far less visited then the city we are now residing in, Milan. It is crazy to think that the nazis were escaping through these mountains and staying in these quaint areas that we have been. Hitler was well known in Munich and as we saw there were many areas that he called meetings with his followers that are now tourist destinations, but with the smaller towns that Eichman and Mengele stayed there is less documentation, not only because they were escaping but because there is much less of a population.
- Kirby Bednarik

Team Blog Post from Milan

On Thursday we toured Verona, it was an interesting city, with a combination of old and new, with Castles, old Roman Theaters, and modern shopping centers.

The highlight of the day was a castle sitting on the Adagie river, the same river we were by in Trento, it was a natural fortress to guard the town of Verona. It was filled with many great works of art, and had lots of history to see.

Today we are in Milan, we arrived here last night after a full day of touring the Italian countryside yesterday. Our first stop was Garda Lake, we walked around an old town situated on a peninsula in the lake. The coolest part was the Castle guarding the entrance to the town.

Our next stop was a medieval town located high on the hills above the Bergamo it was a cool old town to see. There were castle walls, old churches, and narrow streets. Everything you might expect a town to look like that has existed for over 500 years. We stopped at an Art Museum that had some interesting art to view. 

After touring all day we drove across the countryside to Milan. It struck me on how we were still in Italy, yet if I were dropped into the middle of the Italian countryside I wouldn't be able to tell if I were in Italy or a farming community in the U.S. 

Today we are touring Milan, and all the history in it. Tomorrow comes Mass at an old Catholic church, and then we get to see a soccer game here in Milan. 

It is a sunny Friday morning here in Verona, Italy. During the past 11 days I have experienced many firsts, such as touring a castle, visiting a cathedral, and traveling to a World War 2 Concentration Camp. The whole experience has been amazing and I am very happy to be following "the Nazi trail" while also touring the countries we visit along the way. We started out in Munich, Germany which is one of my favorite locations that we have visited so far. I enjoyed that the city was rebuilt to resemble how it looked before the war. The architecture is vastly different from what I am used to seeing in Utah. Munich also had many interesting historical sites such as administrative buildings used by the Nazis, and of course the Concentration Camp Dachau. This camp was a chilling reminder of the cruelty of the Nazi regime to anyone not of the "perfect" race. The crematoriums had the most effect on me personally, it was strange to stand in a room where so many people were murdered and then burned. After leaving Munich we traveled to Austria and visited the cities of Innsbruck and Steinich am Brenner. While in Austria we walked the trail through Brenner pass that the war criminals used to escape into Italy. We also toured a war museum in Innsbruck. After departing Austria we entered Italy and have visited Trento and Verona so far. We stopped in many interesting places along the way including the most beautiful lake in Italy which is renowned for its dark green water. We have toured many castles while in Italy including Castel Mareccio, Castel Avio, and the Castel Vecchio museum. The first castle we toured was built by King Ludwig of Austria, and is used by Walt Disney corporation as a model for their castles. We have also visited many beautiful cathedrals while in Germany and Italy. Visiting these cathedrals is one of my favorite parts of this trip because I enjoy seeing the great 15th and 16th century architecture. I am excited to visit the final few cities in Italy and see what interesting historical sites they have to offer.

---Colton Martinez

It's Thursday night here and I find it hard to believe that we've already been on the trip for 10 days, but we've done so much in the time we've been here, I realize it can't have been less than that either.

Germany was a wonderful beginning to the trip.  Munich has so much history, WWII and otherwise, that it was very strange to try to take it all in while also taking in being in Europe for the first time in general.  What I found most fascinating was how the Germans have found a delicate balance between recognizing the dark history of WWII while still moving forward.  For instance, we went to what is now the Munich University of Music and the Arts, which is housed in one of the buildings that formerly housed the Nazi Party, and we were able to see what was Hitler's office, which is now used for music classes and houses a Steinway Grand Piano.  In America, I'm so used to our historical sites either being destroyed or extremely roped off, this mixture of old and new seemed so strange, yet a very healthy way of moving forward; I found it quite fascinating, but very foreign.

I wish we'd had more time in Germany, but we sadly left after only a few days and headed to Austria.  This disappointment, however, quickly eased, as Austria was also very interesting and culturally, it really is largely an extension of Germany. We spent a few days looking around a bit of Innsbruck, though the second day was very rainy, which hindered exploration. Then we headed to Steinach, where we were planning to hike the Brenner Pass fleeing Nazis such as Mengele took to escape to Italy, but we weren't allowed to go up the Austrian side because of snow.  Instead, the day of the hike, we went just barely to the Italian side of the border, found the trail head, and hiked up until we were just on the Austrian side of the border, then hiked back down.  The hike was only an hour/hour and a half up, but it was a good 1300 vertical feet of almost all switchbacks through near rain, so we were all exhausted by the time we were done.  However, we were greeted by a nice open meadow and a wonderful view at the top, which made it very worth it.  It was a fun experience to do a hike like that, but like being in Hitler's office, it was very eerie to think that fleeing Nazis had walked the same path some 70 years ago.

Since then, and for the rest of the trip we will be in Italy, which has thus far been awesome to see and, compared to my expectations, surprisingly diverse, but that is something for another time.  Until then, I hope everyone reading this is doing well; I know we'll continue thoroughly enjoying ourselves here.

-Bret

Following the actual Nazi trail!

Monday morning we woke up in Austria with the goal of hiking the Alps towards Italy. I love to hike and I often do it back home but I have to say that this hike was actually REALLY challenging! During the hike, we had plenty of time to just imagine what the Nazi officers had to go through in order to escape justice. Every turn of the hike, the incline just got larger and larger. When we finally reached our destination - the point in the mountain where we could see the border- a light rain hit us. We were not about to let a small amount of rain stop us. This hike not only allowed us to actually put ourselves in Nazi officers shoes but we also also learn how challenging the actual hike itself is. Throughout our hike, most of our group wished misery upon the Nazi's that took this route and got away with it. This put into perspective that people are willing to go to far extents in order to escape justice at all cost. What I still can't help but wonder is how the trail was kept a secret from everyone and if it was known like some rumors suggest, why didn't anyone do anything to stop it? It is like ANYONE could have done the job, but EVERYBODY thought that SOMEBODY would do it, but  instead NO ONE did anything about it and that is how the Nazi's escaped.


-Rosa
Group 1

The Hike

We crossed from Austria to Italy through the Brenner Pass, which is the route the escaping Nazis most likely took. Austrian authorities wouldn't let us hike on their side of the pass because of lingering snow, so we drove through and then hiked up on the Italian side. We'd bought sack lunches from the JUFA complete with self-made sandwiches. The selection of sandwich makings was not what I was used to. I ended up with a sandwich of bacon and cucumbers, and some butter to keep it from being dry.

"Yum?" I thought as I packed it. At least I had two apples and other stuff.

I was one of the first ones up the pass. The trail was really steep and really painful, so I booked it up the mountainside, trying to get the whole thing over with as soon as possible.

And was it worth it! The Austrian-Italian border is beautiful!

"Is anyone else tempted to start singing the Sound of Music?" I asked.

"I wasn't," said Bret, "but now that you mention it..."

"Don't speak of it," Jeff said, "or I will fail you."

"Speak of what?" asked Tyler.

"That which must not be named."

"Which is what?"

"We must not name it."

Keni had caught the first half if the conversation. "If we all start singing it, you can't fail us all."

"Watch me," said Jeff dryly.

After some ten minutes of taking pictures of the beautiful scenery and not singing, we hiked back down the steep trail. Rain had started. The trail was slippery and muddy. We'd planned to eat lunch on the way down, and the fact that there was nowhere to stop deterred the professors not one whit. We leaned up against a shelf of rock on one side of the trail and ate straight from our backpacks.

Shivering, I bit into my sandwich.

"Yum," I thought, and this time it was not a question. Bacon, cucumbers, and butter are surprisingly delicious.

I looked at the trail around me and was satisfied. Eating an odd sandwich while standing on a trail through the Alps in the cold rain is freezing and uncomfortable, but more than that, it's just really cool. You should try it sometime.

-Brianne

Also on behalf of Tom and Valeria

Euro Trip

So far this trip has been amazing, and so much fun! We have seen many places in the last week and sometimes it it's hard to keep track of where we have gone!

I would have to say some of my favorite places are the cathederals. The inside and outside of the churches are breath taking, and it's interesting to think people built those churches without any machines.

My favorite aspect of this trip is that we are not just learning history from a textbook, rather, we are here at the historical sites, which the people we are talking about once lived and walked! For me this makes everything more interesting and easier to learn and understand! All of the towns that we have been at, are different, but I have loved each of them in their own way.

Im excited that I have been able to experience all of these historical landmarks in person and I can't wait to see what else is to come, and what else we get to see along the way!

Adriana Pickering

We went into Verrona today. This is the second time I've been to Verona, the first time was with my family several years ago. I was really looking forward to seeing some of the sites again, in particular the stadium and Juliet's balcony. Unfortunately, today was a rather hot day, and most of us got at least a little sunburned. The stadium was being prepared for a performance of some kind, and so half of it was inaccessable. However, it was fun to look around and see it again. Juliet's Balcony is my favorite place in the entire city. As you walk into the courtyard, there are several walls with love letters written on them so thickly that they blend together and for a multicolored blurr. It is very beautiful.

Team Blog Post

After a night in Innsbruck it was off to Steinach, it is easily one of the most scenic places I have ever been.

Unfortunately our plans were changed by mother nature, and we were no longer able to hike from the Austrian side of Brenner Pass over to the Italian side following the same path escaping Nazi War Criminals took. But the next best option was to start on the Italian side, hike up to the summit, and return back down the Italian side, which was amazing. Both because of the incredible views it afforded us of the Alps, but also because we were able to see first hand the way these horrible people escaped justice, and found refuge in Italy.

Coming down the pass Giancarlo pointed out the train station, and just barely beyond that the church that were part of these men's escape route. It was interesting to think about that what we saw as a beautiful hike through nature, and a quaint mountain valley with a train station and church. They saw these things as escape, and a bettering of their odds of making it out of Europe and to South America without ever paying for their crimes.
The first picture is just a picturesque mountain shot. The second is actually quite near the Austrian, Italian border, up near the peak of our hike.

In addition to these awesome places we have already toured 3 castles, and many museums, ranging from art work that dates back to the 1400s, the history of the Tirol region, and back to war history. This trip has been action packed both with learning.

Thats all for now,
Justin, Molly, and Ali

Highlights of the Trip So Far

We have now been on this trip for seven days and I cannot believe how much we have seen. The experience has been even more fun and interesting than I expected. We have gone to several towns in Germany, Austria, and Italy and I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one for its unique history and cultural attributes. Munich, the first city we visited is a large metropolis, but our tour guide made the town really accessible and brought the rich history of the area to life. The experience of being in the room where the Munich Accord took place was absolutely chilling. I have seen that fireplace and room layout in history textbooks over the years, and it is amazing to see firsthand where such important historical events occurred. The Munich Accord emulates the failed foreign policy of appeasement, as this was when the Allied powers ceded Czechoslovakia and the Sudetenland to Hitler in the late 1930s, starting a domino effect of European nations falling under Nazi occupation. Hiking through the Brenner pass from Austria into Italy was also a really neat experience, as it put me in the shoes of the Nazi officials who escaped justice at the outset of war. The hike was strenuous, and I cannot imagine making the trek with the fear of being arrested or shot. However, despite the grueling hike, the view from the top of the mountain made every step worth it. From the top, we could see the road marking the border of Austria and Italy and the church where the Nazi officials could have found sanctuary from arrest during their escape. Also, the view of the Alps and European countryside was breathtaking; this is truly a gorgeous part of the world. Italy has also been a neat experience so far. I really enjoyed the town of Bolzano for its unique blend of German and Italian culture and architecture. Also, the Medieval castle we saw was an amazing learning experience. In the entrance to the castle, we saw Renaissance frescos of the four virtues and portraits of classical philosophers dating back to the fifteenth century. A large portion of the art in the castle is original and not restored according to our tour guide, which made it even more exciting to see. We have seen so much that I can't document it all here. I am having a blast!

Entering Italy!

Wow, how we have traveled! I can't believe that after starting in Munich we have already left Austria and have entered Italy. What an adventure.

While in Austria we ventured into the beautiful Innsbruck. The first evenening there we explored the city, and ate some delicious food. I've decided finding bad food while in Europe is quite the challenge. Everything I've had has been DELICOUS! America, take some lessons!

After our delicious dinner we went back to our hotel and had a lively night in.

The next day we went into Innsbruck and visited the Zeug House, a museum covering the history of the Triol. I am always a fan of a museum, so I had quite an enjoyable time. My favorite part were the globes. Within the museum there were two giant globes, one detailing the constallations, the other detailing all the countries of the world. They were quite old, maybe created in the mid 1500's (This is Jeff's estimation, so we can blame him if I'm wrong.) I was very impressed with just how accurate the globe was of the world. Cuba and Florida were quite detailed, and the other countries were very accurately detailed. It amazes me the amount of curiosity and innovation that the people of the world have possessed. It's because of this curiosity and innovation that our world has changed so much. In museums it's extremely interesting to see the progression of the world and all it's technologies. It motivates me and drives to me to be as innovative and curious as these creators.

After Innsbruck we headed to Italy. The first thing we did while in Italy was hike the Brenner Pass. What. A. Pain. While hiking in the Alps one can anticipate it being a very steep and challenging hike. And that is what we encountered. We had numerous switchbacks and it was a steep, steep climb. But we are troopers, and were able to cross the Italian border into Austria. It was amazing to climb, and the view from the top was beautiful. And to envision the Nazi leaders fleeing through this pass to escape persecution really made you understand just how desperate these men were. I cannot believe the things these men went through to survive. It just goes to show that selfishness is a great motivator!

There is just so much I can talk about, but so little time to do so! Fortunately, my classmates have been doing a great job of updating everyone with what's going on.

On our first day in Munchen we visited several Hitler hangout spots like the Hofbrauhaus were it was said he gave one of his many talks to Nazi followers. We stopped in to have a beer and taken in all of the history surrounding us, while also enjoying the infamous brauts. Jeff pointed out a spot were Hitler went to eat while in Munchen and one spot that wouldn't allow him to enter. It was very interesting to see all the places that he had been to. As we headed to Innsbruck, the hometown of Hitler, we made a stop at the King Ludwig castle in Neushwanstein Germany to see one of his castles. This is also the place were he died or was murdered according to some ledgens, it was spectacular and looked like a fairy tale. I've enjoyed Germany, Austria and look forward to seeing Italy.

The Experience So Far

      Starting the Trip I wasn't sure what to expect. I mean I've lived in Europe and I have experienced this for myself, But I was really interested to see how a large group of American college students, some of which haven't been out of the United States before were going to experience the trip. I was excited to see how they would interact with the Culture and adapt to the European customs. Only After 4 days I can tell that everyone has picked up at least a little on it. Which is amazing to see. I'm so glad that we all have been able to get out of our set American ways and embrace the ways of a foreign place. Seeing that has definitely been my favorite thing. However, as for the actual trip, it has been one of the best things I've done is a really long time. Everything, even the most jet-lagged, and sleep deprived moments have been wonderful. We got into Munich at 12:30 in the afternoon and Immediately started with our sight-seeing. Almost every place we have been to I have felt more connected to the horrors of world war II and the Holocaust. There has always been moments of shock and awe, and we have only been here for 4 days.

Thoughts on the trip

The trip this far has been absolutely amazing. Everything that we have done has been a tremendous experience and has had a huge impact on me already. Munich was fantastic and everything there was a lot of fun. The walking tour of Munich was great, and I learned a lot of history that I didn't know before. It was incredible to actually be in the same building and office as Hitler and so many other famous historical figures. Seeing the photographs of Hitler in the same office sent chills down my spine because we could actually see where he stood which was right in front of where we were sitting. After the walking tour, the Hofbrauhaus was a great meal, and of course, the beer was delicious as well. As everyone has mentioned so far, the experience at Dachau was horrific, but one that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I wasn't aware that it was the first concentration camp and the one that all others were modeled after. I had to separate myself from other people for most of the tour just to take it all in. It was almost overwhelming how much death occurred there and it was hard to wrap my head around everything that happened. Neuschwanstein has been my favorite part of the trip so far. I absolutely love that castle and the views around it are all spectacular. I don't think one could find a bad photo opportunity if they tried, it is just incredible. Innsbruck was very nice as well, and I really want to go back someday to spend more time in the city and experiencing everything it has to offer. As of now, I am looking forward to the trek into Italy and learning more about the affiliation the places we're going have with WWII and the Nazis. It has been a great experience so far, and it will only get better from here!

Eric McCurdie

Blog #2

This trip has already been life changing and we have only been here for four days. I cannot believe some of the things we have seen. Dachau was a difficult place to be but definitely worth going. Being in the crematorium was gut-wrenching.

The city of Munich was beautiful and full of history. Being in the room where the Munich Accords were signed was surreal. It was difficult that this is where the world powers gave Hitler the "go-ahead". This is where historians say the biggest mistake was made.

The museums we saw were also very interesting. The art museum in Munich had so many beautiful pieces. I couldn't take it all in there was so much. The museum in Innsbruck was also pretty great! The music exhibit was especially great and had a lot of pieces that were around during WWII. The torture devices in the other part of the museum was difficult to look at.

Overall the trip has been great so far! Signing out for now, Ali with Molly and Justin.

So far, I think we have seen and experienced so much! First of all, I would have to agree with Kirby about the fact that Germany is known for the Holocaust around the world. After taking the tour in Dachau, I was looking over some of the books in the gift shop and noticed one of the books titled "Germany's Shame," which gave me another perspective to the Holocaust story. Furthermore, Germans do feel ashamed of the Holocaust and try to forget that nightmare, by making the crucial Nazi locations part of the cultural and environmental atmospheres of Munich. For example, one of the big buildings was turned into an arts school and the temples of the sixteen Nazi men "heroes" was turned into a green area. Lastly, something that caught my eye at the concentration camp was the size of the barracks. They were so small compared to the other buildings at the camp. Also, later into the war, more prisoners were put in the barracks, over exceeding it's capacity. The barracks were met for 200 prisoners, but on average 2,000 prisoners actually lived in the barracks. I have learned so much in past four days and I can't wait to see and experience much more! -Laura

Grüss Gott!

I can't believe we are actually in Europe! I have never been across the ocean and this experience has been amazing!  We landed in Munich to some beautiful sunny weather after expecting cold and rain.  The time change was a little strange to get used to, and we ended up staying awake for 39 hours with small uncomfortable naps inbetween on the plane and bus.  Right away we started with our tour of where the Nazi leaders had been in Munich, and we were lucky(?) enough to be able to be in Hitler's office in one of the Nazi's first administration buildings.  It was strange imagining Hitler being in that very same room with his globe in the corner and his friends around the fire.  The next day at Dachau was very interesting and chilling.  Reading about the horrors and walking on the same ground the victims of the Nazis walked on was eye opening.  I think everyone agreed that the worst part was walking into the gas chambers disguised as showers without knowing what they were at first then realizing it after a second.  Thinking about Hitler's motivation for the atrocities he committed himself and convinced others to commit with him reminded me of almost everything in my Punishment class...the Stanford Prison Experiment, thinking of prisoners as animals, etc.  But on to happier topics!  Some things I found interesting about Germany: you have to pay for the bathroom! (and it's expensive!) The people that want to help you are incredibly nice but there are those that will just ignore you and walk right by!  Döner sandwiches are AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS  and finally you have to sometimes pay for a bag for your purchases!
--Naomi, blog group 2

Dachau

My family is of German-Jewish descent. They wanted me to tell them all about Dachau. This was harder than I expected. Here's what I wrote:

The original building where they processed prisoners is still standing, toilets and all. It's a sort of museum now. We walked through and there were some displays but mostly I was looking at the aged walls and the fixtures, thinking of the people who walked through the gates all those years ago but didn't walk out.

The crematoriums are also still standing and completely furnished. I went in with Tom and Justin and looked at the gas chambers and ovens. The ovens are left open.

We looked at the memorials and ended up near the crematorium again. "It's awful in there," said one of the Angelas (there are two in our group). "It's awful in there. You can feel it in the air..." She shivered. "Have you been in there?"

"Oh yeah," said Tom. "Let's not talk about it."

"Let's not."

And that's all I have to say.

As they say, never again.

-Brianne

Also on behalf of Valeria and Tom

Dominique's post

Dominique posting on Colton's blog, mine is not working. We have traveled all over Germany and Austria so far and I love it! My favorite place was Munich because it was very ethnically diverse. While walking down the street, you would be able to choose from a variety of foods. We went to the Haughbrhaus and I ordered sausage and sauerkraut, it wasn't my favorite. However, I did enjoy the live music they had. We went to the castle that served as the influence for the Cinderella castle. The long hike was well worth it, because we also got to see the large river that had enough water pressure for the king to have indoor plumbing. Overall I am having a great time and I am looking forward to the rest of the trip. -Dominique Kiahtipes

Jeff, Angela and Rosa's blog post

So far this trip has been absolutely aw inspiring! In just four days we have seen so much history that has shapes our world today. The very first day on our walking tour we went to where Hitler's office was in Munich. The whole time I was in that office I kept staring at the floor and at my own feet in disbelief. I was sitting, standing, and walking i the same place that one of the most evil men in history worked. It was lucky that we were able to see that. The next day we went to Dachau. Talk about a sobering experience. Once you walked through that gate it hit you; something was not right about that place. To start with, it was in the middle of the town rather than out in the countryside like so many of us originally thought. The location alone prompts the question of how did the townspeople of Dachau not realize what was going on. The Bunker was another place that really got to me. All off the information on the various torture practices used and how murders were covered up as suicide was astounding and really was unsettling to me. How can human being do that to another person. It really is sickening to even think about. However, nothing was as bad as the the crematorium or the gas chamber. Walking into those rooms made me feel sick and really unsettled. Overall, the trip to Dachau was an important experience, but knowing how bad it was, while not being the worst camp, makes the hollocaust all the more unsettling. On a happier note, we went to an awesome castle yesterday that had some great views of the countryside and the lake nearby it. Until next time y'all! Jeff Zuckerman signing out Ps. Sorry if there are typos, my iPhone may have messed things up

Kirby, Colton & Laura Blog Post

The expectations have completely changed from what I originally thought this trip was going to be about. I thought it was interesting how Germany desperately wants to forgone what happened during WWII because that is one of the main things they are known for. So they turned one of the pinnacle places where hitler and his allies conjured up plans into a music college also that one of the most known places in Munich, the Haughbrahaus was one of the major meeting places where nazis met to discuss. Going to dachau was also very moving. The stories told by the liberators as well as just the history of the events that took place was horrifying. I didn't expect it to be in the middle of the city along with just how big it actually was with all of the sleeping quarters that were demolished as well as the square in which the victims did their forced labor. Seeing the crematorium and the gas chambers also put into perspective just how massive this movement was in history. - Kirby Bednarik

Blog post #1

Today is our 5th day in Europe. So far we have had many experiences that have given us different perspectives on the cultures of Germany and Austria. Dachau, was a incredibly sobering experience that we couldn't possibly have prepared for. Thought out school we have learned about the Holocaust but actually seeing the camp changed our view of how horrific these events were. To me the prison gave me the most physical reaction. The way it was set up was straight out of a horror movie but obviously this was an actual horror for millions of individuals. Overall it was important for us to go there especially for the purpose of this class and to truly understand the hardships they faced. We continue to learning more about these events. Molly, Ali & Justin

A Sobering Experience

Two days ago was a dream. We toured Munich and ate some of the best food Germany has to offer at the Haufbrauhaus. Yesterday, we walked through the Dachau concentration camp. It was astounding to see and walk through the rooms that held thousands of people at one time and to realize just how inhumane humans can be. I still can't believe that people could be that cruel for such a long period of time. It isn't fathomable that so many could perish in such a beautiful part of the world because of unusually cruel people and their indoctrination techniques and scare tactics. To think that they tried to cover up the evidence also astounds me because it implies that they knew what they were doing was unacceptable and wrong. Yet they stayed the path and So many suffered because of it. Walking through the encampment, you tend to wonder what could have been done to stop it or you feel a deep anger at all of the cruelty but in the end you accept that it happened, even though you can't imagine how or why or even imagine what it really looked or sounded like because for us privileged enough to be here, such evil acts have never occurred on such a large scale, and never so close to our homes.

To Europe!: Hopes and Expectations

All my life I have been fascinated with history. It's always been my favorite subject, but sadly, I have not had the chance to take many history classes since I reached college. The chance to visit so many historically significant sites, WWII or otherwise, in such a short time is something I've only dreamed of, and I am extremely excited now that it's actually happening. I expect that I will learn a great deal about WWII, as well a number of European cultures.  I've also never been out of the US, and I expect this trip to be an amazing introduction to not only Europe, but the rest of the world.  I have high hopes, and am very excited to for the trip to begin.