World War II was one of the biggest events that rocked the world in the twentieth century. It destroyed countries, traumatized people of different nationalities and ethnicities and shook several countries’ economies.
One of the influential cities in the World War was Germany’s capital, Berlin, an economic powerhouse in modern history. A fine way to experience history is participating in a ww2 walking tour Berlin. Beyond watching films and documentaries, experiencing any of our Germany world war II tours is recommended.
77 years after the war’s end, some places, towns and historical sights can still be seen. Of course, the war destroyed most of old Berlin architecture, but there are a few preserved sites. Standing on the same site and coming face to face with landscapes and monuments that signified some of the worst acts of humanity could be overwhelming. However, being reminded of things like this is a great way to remind us not to repeat history.
The Beginning of World War II
WWII or Second World War also referred to as the Second World war or the Second world War was one of the greatest wars of mankind. In some ways, it was an prolongation of the conflict created by the World War I, but people had a 20-year break. The second world war was from the year 1939-1945 and it impacted probably all the regions on the face of earth.
The war was led by Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party in an economical and politically unstable Germany. He longed to become a world figure, thus re-armed the country and made some pacts with Italy and Japan to create a world empire.
Hitler has long been plotting to overthrow Poland a country for which Great Britain and France had pledged support if Germany attacked it. In August of 1939, Hitler and the leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin signed an agreement to avoid attacking each other, the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact this gave concern to London and Paris. Thus, the pact would mean that Hitler would not have a war on his hands on two fronts whenever he attacked Poland and would have the Stalin’s USSR to back him up.
In September 1939 Germany invaded Poland and Soviet troops invaded Poland as well making the Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. This was where the second world war started. In the following two years the effect of the war would later devastate property and cost approximately 40 to 50 million lives around the globe. Volk told that in result of this organization ethnic cleansing the extermination camps for Jews were organized and 6 million Jews were shot as per Hitler’s “Final Solution”. This is also known as the Shoah.
During the War
The war continued to rage on, leaving destruction in its wake, and in the spring of 1945, World War II had been raging for more than five years. In June 1941, Hitler went back on the pact he signed with Stalin and ordered the invasion of the Soviet Union. So, the Soviet Union continued to repel German forces in eastern Europe, losing their soldiers.
In June 1944, successful allied invasions in France gave U.S and British troops the ability to capture part of Germany’s territory and subdue their forces. Around the same time, the Soviet troops began their campaign in the east. Over the years, the army marched toward Berlin; with the intent to destroy Nazi Germany.
The Battle of Berlin
It still remained one of the last combats of Second World War that took place between the 16th of April to the 2nd of May, in 1945. The battle was fought between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, its end was the complete surrender of Berlin to the Soviet Red Army which avenged the thirst of the Soviet people for the suffering that had begun in 1941.
In April 1945, great forces of the Red Army have been massed near the outskirts of Berlin to seize control over the city. Soviet army attacked Berlin from the East and south and in no time at all, the German army in the North was knocked out. The city was already in a weakened state when they arrived by bombings and all residents including citizens and refugees were moving around in the city barely surviving.
The German forces were in a very poor state that during this battle they were forced to summon young boys from the Hitler Youth. Thus victory in this battle belonged to Soviet forces; they took Berlin and fought from building to building, eliminating troops.
In World War II history and Germany, the battle of Berlin is said to have stood as an important conflict since it was the greatest fight in Europe. The result of it signaled the defeat of Nazi Germany as well as the leadership of Nazi German. Some leaders of World war II also died a natural death while some killed themselves, Adolf Hitler for instance shot himself to death through his head on April 30, 1945 in a concrete bunker beneath his… reconsider, he married his new bride Eva Bruan just a day before he died at the age of 56.
Notable Sights as part of World War II Tour Berlin
Reichstag Building Berlin
In five years of War II, Berlin received 67070 tonnes of trinitrotoluene TNT during May 2. And after the war for Berlin was over on May 2nd, 1945 the greater part of city centre was completely ruined: many buildings in Berlin were destroyed including the Reichstag which was the main seat of the government of Germany even if that government had not participated in the War to any extent.
That is why it may be rather challenging to find the history of the war in present-day Berlin most of modern Berlin which was spared by the war was blown up later. Soviets tried to remove every link that could tie Germany to the war. Still, some sites in relation to World War II have been left open for tourists and visitors though few in number. Many memorial sites depict sufferings of people since some illustrate bullet impacts on sculptures. All, which, as it were, testify to a certain darkness inherent in the people of the wars, the epochs of darkness.
Most of these sites are found in central Berlin and can be visited on the free walking or even on private guided tour. I believe there are a few of these in Germany so you would have to specifically locate the right sort for you. Still, if you are in Berlin on a vacation, you can cover whatever you want on foot, or if you want a little more comfort, take a bus.
When visiting Berlin on a World War 2 tour you’d for sure find traces of the war in and around Berlin. There is no scarcity of initial venues that are bullet riddled walls, permanent memorial sites, flak towers and former Nazi occupied structures, for instance. There is also outside the city a concentration camp, which can be reached by the means of transportation.
Some of the top notable Berlin third Reich tour sights include:
- The Reichstag building
- Führerbunker (Hitler’s Bunker)
- Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen
- Ministry of Aviation
- Bebelplatz
- Topography of Terror
- Memorial SA Prison Papestraße
- Humboldthain Flak Tower
- Documentation Center on Nazi Forced Labor
- House of the Wannsee Conference
- Tempelhof Airport
- New Guard House
- The Anne Frank Center
The Reichstag
The Reichstag building used to represent the power and host the GermaFebruary 27th from 894 to February 27, 1933. Here, the young fire in 1933 burnt down a part of the building after Hitler assumed the chancellorship. Communists were said to have been responsible by Hitler and he seized this chance to take power all by himself. During the battle of Berlin this building was one of the April 30, Red Army’s main objectives. , so on April 30 the red flag, the emblem of the Soviet Union, was placed on the building.
To have a free tour of the Parliament building for example, one had to produce the original of an ID card.
Memorial SA Prison Papestrasse
In 1933, a concentration camp was operated in a former barracks by SA, Hitler’s ea liest paramilitary group. A quick tour will explain all that took place here. You would find the rooms used as cells in their original condition.
Führerbunker (Hitler’s Bunker)
At some point to the later part of the war, Hitler with his secretary then mistress Eva Braun and some of the highly ranked Nazis moved to a Bunker in Berlin. When the Soviets arrived to Germany they tried to blow up the bunker, however they did not succeed. Today, the part of the complex popping up on numerous panoramic photos is not a recognizable anti-aircraft bunker but the concealed foundation with no possibility for visitors’ access. Today, there is a parking lot on the site, but in 2006 a plaque was installed to inform the tourists.
Sachsenhausen
Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen
The Sachsenhausen concentrates is located in Oranienburg about 35km from Berlin. It was constructed in 1936 as an extermination camp but functioned initially as a concentration camp. But with the war it turned out to be for criminals, communists, homosexuals, and Jews. More than 200 thousand people were detained in the camp before the beginning of the camp and after the beginning tens of thousands of people were killed, and only the Soviet troops released the imprisoned people.
The camp is also very large and it will take approximately 3-4 hours to go round and take a look at most of the attractions there. Thereby, you could embark on the exploration in a group to get all the bleak features of the camp in a group tour, or explore on your own. In either case, it could be sure that you’d leave far more of a informed user.
Conclusion
Berlin is a beautiful city with many layers of history that are not hidden well and clearly seen. As has already been established, Berlin’s World War II had a lot of impacts on the structures and people life. It’s clearly understandable that you can see modern architectural structures of Berlin now easily and at the same time, hints of world war II are also visible around you when you are in Berlin. History is ever there lurking in the shadows and just waiting to be discovered. Prepare yourself for an inspiring learning tour of World War II in Germany, Berlin to be precise!
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