Top 10 WWII Sites to Visit in Berlin

Hi and welcome to the On the Front blog, where we discuss all things WW2.

In this blog, I am doing a breakdown of my top 10 WW2 sites everyone should see when visiting Berlin.
Now I know what you are thinking, there is a lot of history in Berlin and you are right, so for this list I based my decision on 3 main criteria:

• First: These sites are significant for both History buffs and those just wanting to learn more about the Second world War

• Second: These sites tell the story of the Nazi Parties rise and fall

• Third: They are all within walking distance of each other

1: The Reichstag

Commissioned is 1871, by Otto Von Bismark the Reichstag was the symbol for political unification of Germany, bring the German speaking states together, with the exception of Austria, forming the German empire.

The Reichstag though, was not important to the Nazi’s as it was left as a ruin after being destroyed by fire on the 27th of February 1933. Although the building itself was not important, the Nazi’s were able to capitalise on the fire and bring about sweeping forms to solidify their grasp on power.

Fast forward 12 years and you have the Soviets knocking on the door of Berlin. Seen as the crowning Jewel for the Soviets symbolically, the Red Army fought bitterly to take the building, capturing the site on April 30th, 1945. The scares from the battle can still be seen in the façade today although great effort has been made the patch the damage.

After the war the Reichstag was left as a ruin until the collapse of the Soviet Union and Germany’s reunification in 1991.Extensive renovation was needed before the site officially reopened again as the German Parliament in 1999, once again re-unifying the country politically.  

2: The Brandenburg Gate

Undoubtably the National symbol for Germany the Brandenburg Gate was constructed in 1791. The Brandenburg Gate in many ways became the focal point of much of Nazi propaganda and celebrations, perhaps none more spectacular than Hitler’s 50th Birthday celebration. The streets where lined with National Socialist flags and pillars adorned with the swastika and the Nazi eagle.

The Brandenburg Gate today however represents a very different message. One of unity and freedom not just for Germany but I think also for wider Europe and even the world. The symbolism has changed over time from becoming a political symbol to a symbol of unity following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

3: New Guardhouse

Constructed in 1813 in commemoration to the War of Liberation against Napoleon. In 1931, the New Guardhouse became a monument to the fallen German soldiers of the First World war under President Hindenburg and was used extensively by the Nazi’s for paradises andto highlight German victimisation after the war under the unpopular Treaty of Versailles. Regular changing of the guard Ceremonies wold also take place, attracting large crowds.

After the Second World War the monument was converted to a Memorial to the Victims of Fascism and Militarism under the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The remains of an unknown soldier and concentration camp victim were interred under an eternal flame, surrounded by soil from taken battlefields and concentration camps.

Rededicated in 1993, the remains still lie in the monument under the statue of the “Mother”. The Käthe Kollwitz sculpture in the centre of the monument depicts a “mother” embracing her dead son, helpless and turned to stone in silent pain.

The monument is a moving site in the middle of this busy city and stands as Germany’s central memorial for the victims of war and tyranny.

4: The burning of the books

On 10 May 1933, members of the Nazi German Student Union and their professors gathered here in Bebel Platz adjacent the historical and prestigious Humboldt University. In a nationwide action “against the un-German spirit”.  Students burned upwards of 25,000 volumes of books that were deemed "un-German". What makes this event even more disturbing is that it wasn’t organised by the Nazi Party but rather independently by students. Looking to capitalise on the situation Joseph Goebbels quickly made his way to Bebel Platz and gave an impromptu but fiery speech:

“No to decadence and moral corruption. Yes to decency and morality in family and state! I consign to the flames the writings of Heinrich Mann, Ernst Glaeser, Erich Kästner." - Joseph Goebbels

Book burnings occurred all over Germany and was not a central event. With students organising themselves over the radio to coordinate. The books to be burnt were chosen according to blacklists made by the librarian Wolfgang Herrmann, both private and public library bookshelves were plundered.

The monument today depicts a sunken library showing what is missing with the ominous quote from Heinrich Heine:

“That was but a prelude;
where they burn books,
they will ultimately burn people as well.” - Heinrich Heine

5: Soviet memorial

Overwhelming early success by the German Wehrmacht and the use of Blitz Krieg tactics saw the German Armies conquer all of western mainland Europe in only two years. Overconfident, Hitler now turns his attention to the east to defeat what he saw as the real enemy of National Socialism, the Soviet Union. Operation Barbarossa launched on June 22nd, 1941; was the largest land invasion the world had ever seen. Expecting the Soviet Army to collapse, a quick victory was anticipated by Christmas.

The invasion would ultimately be there undoing. The brutality of the fighting in Eastern Europe cannot be underestimated with the turning point for the Soviets coming at Stalingrad in 1942.

Three years later on April 20th, 1945; The Soviet Red Army reached the outer city limits. The ensuing battle would be one of the Bloodiest during the war resulting in over 80,000 Soviets killed; 2,000 of which are buried in the grounds. The memorial was quickly erected by the Soviets following Germany’s surrender using recycled material from Hitler’s Reich Chancellery and surrounding political building. Battle scares can still be seen in the moment from the recycled stone used in the construction.

Built in the British sector of Berlin, the move was initially welcomed until the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, resulting in the moment quickly becoming seen as a sign of communist provocation. Soviet Honour Guards where used to protect the monument from vandalism but as tensions rose the British government was forced to intervene and station British soldiers here as well to protect the monument from protestors.

6: Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe

Located in the heart of Berlin, the memorial serves as a striking place of remembrance. Designed by New York architect Peter Eisenmann in 2005, there is no official explanation making the memorial unique.

Open on all four sides, there are 2711 concrete blocks of varying sizes across the space. The memorial slopes inward on uneven ground in an almost wave like fashion giving visitors a feeling of instability or uncertainty.

What I think makes this monument so special, is that, as no official explanation has been provided and it is up to the visitor to development their own understanding through interaction with the space. This in my opinion creates a much longer lasting impression on the visitor. Located in close proximity are also the memorials to the murdered homosexuals and the Roma and Sinti two further groups persecuted by the Nazi’s.

7: The Führerbunker / Hitler’s Bunker

Located underneath what was the Reich Chancellery, Hitler’s main office, was the Führerbunker. Construction first began in 1936 with an added phase of construction being completed in 1944.

Hitler moved the bunker complex on the 16th of January 1945, along with his senior staff. Seldom leaving the safety of bunker expect to attend military conferences in the undamaged sections of the Reich Chancellery or to walk his dog Blondi in the gardens. Hitler made his last trip to the surface on 56th birthday April 20, 1945, where he awarded the Iron Cross to boy soldiers fighting in the Hitler Youth.

In the days that followed, the situation in the bunker become desperate with Hitler’s ramblings of wonder weapons and moving fictious army units with dreams of launching counter attacks to win the war becoming more and more delusional.

As the Soviet Army drew closer, Hitler accepted his time was up and as acknowledgement for her loyalty would marry his long-time mistress Eva Brown in a civil ceremony on April 29th. Early the next morning on the 30th of April, both Hitler and Eva would commit suicide.  Hitler was adamant he did not want their bodies discovered out of fear they would be paraded through the streets and tasked his remaining loyal staff to have his and Eva’s body incinerated. According to survivor testimony, the bodies wrapped in a blankets were placed in a bomb crater and subsequently cremated – Hitler’s remains have never been discovered.

8: Ministry for Aviation 

At the time of its completion in 1936, in time for the Berlin Olympic games the Ministry for Aviation was the largest office building in Europe. Designed by Architect Ernst Sagebiel, the building is the typical expression of National Socialist intimidation architecture as its size and grandeur dominate the landscape.

The ministry under the command of Hermann Goering, sole purpose was to support the Luftwaffe (the German Airforce) with aircraft and to design and develop new aviation technologies. The Luftwaffe was a key arm of the German military and instrumental in the early success of the German Wehrmacht in WW2. As a result, high profile parades military parades were conducted in the streets. The ministry collapsed in 1945 due to severe shortages of fuel and material at the late stages of the war.

The building survived the war in remarkable condition only suffering minor damage. After the war the building would serve the Council of Ministers for East German Government. Today it is the German Tax Office.

9: The Topography of terror

A site of remembrance today, the Topography of Terror was the location of the SS- Headquarters under the command of Hienrich Himmler. The building complex housed the SS central command, Gestapo, and SS Security service. The SS was the primary instrument of terror used by the Nazi’s to persecute their victims. The site was made up of several buildings, most notably the first-class Prinz Albrecht Hotel which was commandeered by the SS in 1934. Combined this location became a ‘house prison’, to interrogate, torture and execute prisoners.

In total the gestapo arrested more than 15,000 opponents to the Nazi regime. Who were such opponents? Anyone who dared speak against the Nazi party; Politian’s, students, protestors. Including those who were turned in by neighbours and friends for simply speaking ill of the Nazi party at home or at social engagements.

All that remains of the site today is the basements where prisons were interrogated and tortured before being sent to concentration camps. A section of the Berlin Wall above is also managed by the exhibition and was not destroyed during reunification. These two sites combined serve as a warning to the world of what can happen if power is left unchecked. The ruins below representing the consequences of the Nazi Party and top the failures of Soviet communism.

Also on the site is the Topography of Terror exhibition. A fantastic museum, that is free to visit and if you are anything like me and you like to read everything it will take you 3-4 hours to get through.

10: Anhalter Bahnhof

A relatively hidden site, Anhalter Bahnhof is one of the best places to get up close to the ruins of Hitler’s Third Reich. Constructed in 1841, Anhalter bahnhof was Berlin’s largest and most opulent train station. With 44,000 passengers passing through the station each day. Badly damage by allied bombings, we have been left with the front façade of the station today. This fragment of Anhalter Bahnhof stands a memorial to the Jewish community in Berlin, as Anhalter Bahnhof was 1 of 3 stations used in Berlin to deport some 55,000 Jews from the city.

In total 9,500 Jews passed through the doors here in small groups of 50 – 100. Loaded onto specially marked passenger carriages, so as not to arouse suspicion. They were then transported to Theresienstadt in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and from there to concentration camps.

The modern Anhalter Bahnhof exists today as part of an underground section of the S-bahn, Berlins train system and if you follow my top ten list here it is a great place to end as the train connection here can take you to central Berlin. 

So that is my top 10 WW2 sites in Berlin. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below if you agree with my list or if there are any other sites you think I should have included..

If you are interesting in how you can get to these sites please download the printable reader below.

Thank you for reading and I’ll see you next time On the Front.

- Matt