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Berlins Darkest Years: The Third Reich and WW2 

"Matti was such a wonderful guide… lots of information but not too much to be overwhelming… he was so enthusiastic… felt like he loved his job and the city!!! Perfect start to our stay in Berlin."

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Looking for a deeply immersive journey through Berlin’s darkest chapters? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you prefer a concise 3-hour exploration or a full-day deep dive into the remnants of WWII and the Holocaust, your experience will be tailored to fit your interests.

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Explore the haunting remnants of Nazi Berlin—from Wilhelmstraße, once the heart of the Third Reich, to the site of Hitler’s bunker. Visit powerful memorials and see the lasting scars of war, including bullet holes, ruins, and bunkers that tell the story of Berlin’s darkest days.

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Rates range from 50 to 100 Euros per hour, depending on group size and tour length. Send me a message for a personalized quote and choose from my ready-made tours. Let’s uncover Berlin’s powerful history together!

Tour Option #1:Third Reich Berlin - A 3,5h In-Depth WWII and Holocaust Walking Tour

Experience more than just the usual stops with a detailed look into Berlin's Nazi history.

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Step into Berlin’s turbulent past with one of the most comprehensive WWII tours the city has to offer. Unlike most Third Reich tours that stick to Wilhelmstraße, where little remains, this 3,5-hour journey takes you both on and off the beaten path, showing you tangible reminders of history while uncovering hidden stories often left untold.

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We begin at the Reichstag building, the symbol of the Nazi rise to power. Learn how the infamous Reichstag fire helped the Nazis cement their control and how this very site became the stage for one of the most iconic Soviet victories in WWII. We'll discuss where the famous Soviet flag-raising photo was taken and continue to the nearby Soviet War Memorial, which features original Soviet tanks, artillery, and the final resting place for 2,000 Soviet soldiers. Here, we’ll delve into the Nazi vision for Berlin, including the grandiose plans for a reimagined capital, “Germania,” and explore how Berliners used the nearby Tiergarten during and after the war for survival.

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We’ll then walk to the Brandenburg Gate, famously used as the backdrop for Nazi torch parades. But was the crowd as large as it appeared? We’ll discuss the reality behind the propaganda. From here, we visit the Memorial to the Murdered Homosexuals and the powerful Holocaust Memorial (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe), dedicated to the millions of Jews who perished under the Nazi regime.

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Continuing to the site of Hitler’s Bunker, you’ll hear the truth about the Führer’s final days and how he met his end in this very spot. Nearby on Wilhelmstraße, we stop at the Georg Elser Memorial, honoring the man who nearly assassinated Hitler in 1939—missing by just 13 minutes. You’ll also learn about the Propaganda Ministry, once headed by Joseph Goebbels, still standing nearby.

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Next, we explore where Hitler’s New Reich Chancellery once stood. Today, a Chinese restaurant sits on this historic ground, and we’ll investigate the urban legend about whether marble from the Chancellery was repurposed for Mohrenstraße Station. Then, we visit one of Berlin’s few remaining Nazi buildings—the monumental Air Force Ministry (Hermann Göring’s headquarters).​

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Our tour moves on to the Topography of Terror, the former SS and Gestapo headquarters, where heinous plans were executed. You'll see what remains and learn about the atrocities committed here. We’ll also stop at the Martin Gropius Bau, marked with bullet holes from the final battles of WWII.

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We then explore the haunting ruins of Anhalter Bahnhof, once Berlin’s largest train station and one of the key sites for deporting Jews to concentration camps. Why did the Nazis choose such a busy station? You’ll also discover the story of the hotel that refused Hitler as a guest—and its fate afterwards. Nearby is the imposing Anhalter Bunker, a massive above-ground WWII structure still bearing shrapnel scars from the war.

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We’ll then take the S-Bahn to Berlin's Old Jewish Quarter, where history breathes in every corner. Hear how the New Synagogue survived the horrors of Kristallnacht, and learn about the courageous acts of St. Hedwig’s Hospital and the fate of the world's first female rabbi. Walk along Große Hamburger Straße, with its chilling missing house memorial and bullet-riddled Sophienkirche. This street is also home to many Stolpersteine (stumbling stones), small brass plaques honoring Nazi victims, and we’ll discuss the stories behind them. You’ll visit the site of one of the main Holocaust deportation centers, as well as the remnants of Berlin’s oldest Jewish cemetery, destroyed by the Nazis but still a chilling place of reflection, complete with a WWII mass grave.

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Finally, we arrive at the Schwarzenberg Hof and Otto Weidt’s Workshop for the Blind, where Weidt, known as “Berlin’s Oskar Schindler,” protected blind Jewish workers during the Holocaust. You’ll visit his original factory rooms and, time allowing, see the secret hideaway behind a bookshelf where Weidt sheltered a family. Learn how they were tragically betrayed.

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The tour concludes at the powerful Rosenstraße Memorial, commemorating the only mass public protest by Germans in the Third Reich. The wives of Jewish men gathered here to demand their husbands' release from deportation—a rare and moving act of defiance that successfully halted the Nazis.

Tour Option #2: WWII Berlin: Full-Day Third Reich and Holocaust Tour by Car

Explore the Hidden and Iconic Sites of Nazi Berlin, Including Outskirts and Secret Locations

 

If you’re ready to explore Berlin’s WWII history in full, let’s make it a day trip! This extended version of my Third Reich & Holocaust tour includes everything from the basic tour #1, but with the added advantage of traveling by car, we’ll venture beyond the city center to explore even more historical landmarks.

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First, we’ll head west to see the site where Claus von Stauffenberg plotted the famous Operation Valkyrie and was later executed after his failed attempt to assassinate Hitler. We’ll visit the German Resistance Memorial in his honor. Next, we stop at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a haunting symbol of the destruction from WWII bombings, and hear about the fate of the animals at the Berlin Zoo during the war. Moving along Kurfürstendamm, I’ll show you where some of the first Nazi attacks on Jewish businesses took place.

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We’ll also pass the location of Hitler’s private doctor, Theo Morell's practice, and stop by Salon Kitty, a notorious Nazi brothel fitted with SS listening devices. A highlight of the western leg of the tour is a visit to the 1936 Olympic Stadium, where you’ll learn about Jesse Owens’ victories and Leni Riefenstahl’s propaganda work. If time and interest allow, we can even enter the stadium for an additional fee.

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To cap off the day, we visit Platform 17, one of the most chilling Holocaust memorials in Berlin, marking the site of deportations to concentration camps. If time permits, we can even leave Berlin and head north to the Bogensee, where Joseph Goebbels’ abandoned villa still stands, offering a rare glimpse into the private life of one of Hitler’s closest allies. We can’t enter, but a walk around the villa is an eerie reminder of history.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much would a private Berlin tour cost?

Private Berlin tour rates typically range from €50 to €100 per hour, depending on factors like duration, group size, and customizations. Adding private car or bus transport may raise the cost. For a tailored quote based on your needs, feel free to reach out!

Is this tour child-friendly?

I can absolutely tailor the tour to be kid-friendly, but it’s important to consider the subject matter. The Holocaust and WWII are deeply sad and emotional topics, and we wouldn’t be able to dive into the details as we would with adults. It’s really about whether you feel your kids are ready for such heavy themes. I’ll happily adapt the content based on their age and sensitivity.

Is there still WW2 damage in Berlin? 

Yes, traces of WWII damage can still be found in Berlin. While much of the city has been rebuilt, some areas retain remnants of the war's devastation, such as bullet holes in buildings, preserved ruins, and occasionally unearthed bomb sites. These reminders serve as poignant traces of Berlin's tumultuous history during World War II and I'm happy to show you these places.

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