When it comes to history, people go through the streets of Berlin and discover the sinister of Second World War. Go for a walk through the city with the lights off to unveil the old souls and better learn about this period in history. This journey lets you guide through the points and landmarks that retained the memories of the war that changed the world.
If you need to find out what it means to assess the significance of WWII in Berlin, you should sign up for our service.
During World War II Berlin was in the middle of the nazi regime. The advent of Adolf Hitler to power paved way to making this city as the cradle of his extreme evil regime. Berlin was severely devastated throughout the war destructively, and this emotional penetration was evident. Studying what remains and what people say about this period directs to the understanding of the defeat and the heroes who survived it.
Memorializing the Victims: Holocaust Memorial and Jewish Museum at Hanover Square
The first place you might start your Berlin walk is at the memorium for holocaust which is an eye opener for millions of Jewish people who perished during the holocaust. Out of the giant stones of concrete, 2,711 of them are placed with different heights forming the pathway of a maze where visitors are allowed to think deeply. It presented people with the picture of how big the catastrophe was and how much they had to remember.
Then, go to the Jewish Museum that renders an insight into the Jewish culture and their presence in Germany. Firstly, it is obvious that museum as architecture is an object that aims to stir emotions and to narrate narratives. Inside you can see vast collections of Jewish people’s experiences before, during, and after war . It is an important one in the preservation of Jewish history in Berlin for anyone willing to know what took place.
Traces of the Berlin Wall: East Side Gallery and Checkpoint Charlie
The Wall which was built in the middle of Berlin separating East and West Berlin is a thing of the Cold War period. Visiting East Side Gallery provides an opportunity to see today the longest preserved stretch of the wall as an art painted gallery. Featuring more than 100 international murals, East Side Gallery reminds of the spirit and the strife of the divided city.
The other important location associated with the Berlin Wall is called Checkpoint Charlie. There are photograph depicting this place formerly used as transit between East and West Berlin offering a view of conflict at the time. Before proceeding, take a tour of the museum just beside the checkpoint in order to learn more about the political situation, as well the of the victims who sought to flee from East Berlin.
Exhibiting History at the Topography of Terror
The permanent multimedia exhibition called the Topography of Terror is to be found in the area where the Gestapo/SS headquarters were situated. This educational and rather sad exhibit aims to guide people through the process of terror during nazi time, exploring control, persecution and propaganda. Very many people lost their lives during this sinister period, a fact that the exhibited artifacts, pictures, and papers depict in detail.
This is a list that people ought to know when they are out for a Berlin walking tour:
- Wear comfortable shoes: A walking tour can take a very long time, therefore it is advisable to ensure your feet are comfortable the whole time.
- Dress for the weather: Berlins weather can be changing so depending on when you will be touring, make sure to dress for the occasion. Please don’t forget an umbrella/ raincoat in case it rains.
- Bring a refillable water bottle: You need to take a lot of water if you are walking since it’s so hot most times of the year. Take along a water bottle and refill it even if it means doing it along the many stations that offer water.
- Be respectful: Just bear in mind that the sites being offered are historical and may be sensitive to some individuals. Go to every location with reasonable precautions and consideration of the local people.
- Listen to your guide: This means that a tour guide being an informed person on the area is a valuable source of information. Most of the things that you need to learn about them can be noted from the tales that they are telling and you should make an effort of asking questions which will help you in gaining more insight.
Discover Berlin through a walking tour
Taking a Berlin walking tour is an opportunity to find out its WWII ghosts, which enhances the understanding of worldwide war consequences. Engaging with its history you will get a new vision of the outstanding ability of the city to rise from ashes and given you a new point of view on how history can be used as a tool in building the future.
Table of Contents
