Page 112 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Exercise

Wende Scholar

By Lieutenant Adam Scott

Educational and Training Von Staufenberg Plot, linked to the which allowed for a self-indulgent day of
Services (South) deploy to moral components of fighting power and visiting the Olympiastadion of the 1936
leadership. Whilst only a short trip to
Olympics, and the Glockenturm Tower.
Berlin. the museum, the courtyard memorials This brought an unusual but interesting
gave poignant thought for all, and the element to the Battlefield Study which
executions that took place there in 1944. was enjoyed by all. The final two days
Battlefield Study saw visits focus on the centre of the city
Seelow Heights itself, incorporating the Reichstag, Moltke
In June 2016, 30 Officers from Educational Bridge, the Jewish Memorial, and the site
and Training Services (South) descended Tuesday began with a 90 minute commute of Hitler’s Bunker. The studying concluded
upon Berlin to study the final stages of the by coach to visit the Seelow Heights, with a visit to the Book Burning Memorial
war in 1945, contextualising the realities towards the Polish border. The lengthy at the Bebelplatz, analysing the impact of
of war and aspects of leadership. Guided journey was welcomed by most, as it the book burning ceremonies on society at
by Major (Retired) Nigel Dunkley MBE allowed some to add more analysis to their the time.
formerly Scots Dragoon Guards, with the presentations, and others to deeply reflect
study material facilitated by Major Shaun upon the study so far. The busiest day of Endnote
Fardy, the Battlefield Study was conducted the week encompassed not only the Seelow
over five days from 6th to 10th of June Heights, showing the approach of General The week was blessed with hot weather
2016. Zukhov’s armour and artillery upon Berlin, from start to finish. Indeed, the heat often
but also the impressive sights of Treptow gave many of us very vivid memories
Into Berlin Park and the Soviet Memorials within of slightly cramped public transport
Karlshorst. All the more impressive was a experiences. However, the impression
The first day saw us fly into Berlin Tegal local chap who utilised the steep staircase gained at the end of the exercise was that
Flughafen, and travel across the city, in of the memorial to complete his own memories, fun and learning had been
extremely warmer conditions than we cardio, a press-up routine, reminiscent of a achieved by most, if not all. Personally,
left behind in the United Kingdom, to ‘Rocky’ movie. it remains my single most rewarding
check into our hotel. Ironically, on the week of work since Commissioning, and I
anniversary of D-Day, the single biggest Memorial Visits and the 1936 genuinely thank all those who made it the
challenge of the exercise was to ensure all Olympic Stadium experience that it was.
personnel arrived on mainland Europe
in one piece. This was swiftly followed The content of the study material slowed
by an afternoon visit to the Staufenberg deliberately in pace on the second day,
Museum to study the intricacies of the

Nigel Dunkley MBE discusses the events of the Von The Soviet Memorial for the people of Germany in
Staufenberg Plot in the courtyard where the executions At the Museum Island within Berlin Treptow Park, Berlin
took place

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