We were really grateful to hear from Mr Albrecht Stewen today who shared his personal experiences of growing up in East Berlin. His insights into daily life under the East German regime — ranging from the strict policing system to the struggles of apartment living, the 14-year wait for a Trabant car, and the difficulties in crossing the heavily guarded border to go to school in West Berlin (as he was a West German citizen), brought history to life for us. His reflections dovetailed perfectly with our A Level History studies, offering a real human perspective on the division of Germany.

The Upper Sixth Historians