Berlin Battlefield Tour - Operation Berlin 1945 (Small Group)
Description
Do you feel the call of history beckoning you to step into the shoes of history's great military commanders? With Berlin’s only World War II tour specialists, you'll be transported back in time right to the heart of the battle. Hear the roar of the feared MG42. The hiss and snap of artillery as our expert guides unravel the intricate tales of strategy, bravery, and sacrifice, offering you an immersive experience like no other. You won’t just know history; you'll feel it. Tour Highlights: - The Moltke Bridge: A strategically vital bridge - Konigplatz - The Assault: Relive the intense battle - The Reichstag: The primary objective of the war for the Soviets. - Wiedendammer Bridge: Hear the tales of desperation, hope, and carnage. Learning Outcomes: - You will learn military strategy - You will gain insights into the decisions made by Soviet and German commanders - You will understand the human side of the war - You will feel a deeper connection to history
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our journey begins at the meeting point on the southern side of the modern Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Main Station). Following a ten-minute introduction to set the scene we make our way to the Moltke Bridge.
This red sandstone ornate structure became the scene of some of the city’s most brutal fighting. Here we orientate ourselves to the Soviet 3rd Shock Army’s axis of advance and discuss the key challenges for the Soviets and the German defenders.
After making our way across the Moltke Bridge we reach the then Interior Ministry, nicked named the “Himmler House” in the old diplomatic quarter. Following a Soviet artillery barrage at point blank range we discuss the horrific room to room fighting that took place here.
Continuing to ‘no man’s land’ we stand on the former Königsplatz and take stock of the 300m moon scape the 207th and 150th rifle divisions would have to cross before reaching the Reichstag.
As we walk toward the Reichstag, we discuss Hitler’s final moments in the Führer bunker only a few hundred meters away. Once at the foot of the Reichstag the moment has come to hear the stories of Sergeant Yegorov and Sergeant Kantariya and how they raised special banner No.5 on the roof – signifying the end.
During the final days of the Battle of Berlin, the Wiedendammer Bridge was one of the few bridges still intact over the Spree. On the night of May 1st, 1945, it was the scene of terrible carnage following a breakout attempt from the Führerbunker.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(28)
We were blessed to have a small group for this tour. Steve did an amazing job pointing out the key sites and even brought additional images to help us further understand. Great tour, well worth the time and money
Excellent tour!! Jochin was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us an interesting and educational tour that we both enjoyed. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in the Battle of Berlin!
Steve is an absolutely terrific professional guide. He is highly knowledgeable, organized, thoroughly prepared, and delivers a fun and interactive battlefield touring experience. Walking over the ground in Berlin where the final battle for the Reichstag took place was highly evocative and made me like I had a first hand account of the savage fighting in those fateful days of late April and early May in 1945. I highly recommend this tour!
Our experience last week was truly educational, deeply spiritual, and incredibly meaningful. Steve, our guide, brought everything to life with his engaging, friendly, and fun approach. Over three days, we explored key Berlin battle sites, Soviet war cemeteries, Seelow, and many significant Jewish and Holocaust landmarks across the city. We highly recommend On the Front Tours and will definitely use them again on our next visit to Berlin.
I have to say this tour was excellently put together by Front Line Tours and delivered by Jochen. His ability to build a story line and deliver it is an easy and understandable way is an exceedingly rare skill. Well, done Jochen. I highly recommend these tours.
Lots of history. Jochen was our guide, Excellent! I learned a lot, my son who is a history buff had many in depth conversations. Wonderful experience.
Very knowledgeable guide who tailors the guide based on the participant’s knowledge and interests. Shares before and after photos of the battle sites to give context to each stop. Additional information about the history of each location is also presented. The very definition of an insider’s guide to the battle.
Trip cancelled night before, to continue we were asked to pay fee of additional €110 if we wished to go as a private tour. As this was too expensive we cancelled and rebooked a different tour for €18 with a different company and it was great.
Our guide, Steve, was fantastic! The info he gave was engaging and he really brought to life what happened in those final few weeks and hours. We had to adapt the tour slightly due to a biblical rain storm, but that didn't really matter as we had already seen the main sites we were going to visit, it was just great to hear his narrative. My 11 year old really enjoyed it, and was recanting some facts and figures to his pals once we returned home.
Great tour - very comprehensive Roshana was so thorough. Provided insightful context to the war history of Berlin. Highly recommend.
