Overview
Journey back to Berlin’s darkest period--the time of the Nazi regime.
Many people are not aware of the fact that prior to the Nazi regime, Berlin was known as a city of enlightenment and tolerance. With vicious violence and sophisticated propaganda, the Nazis conquered this open-minded, cosmopolitan city and transformed it into the core of Hitler’s future empire. This tour through Nazi Berlin will introduce you to the powerful personalities, important places, and imposing buildings that represented the Nazi regime. Although the subject matter is dark, you will visit some of the most beautiful parts of Berlin.
You will be met by your driver who will take you through the countryside of Germany and bring you to Berlin, where you'll meet your personal guide. Your guide will be a real character of the city, someone who studied history or architecture, has years of experience in guiding, and is eager to show you his hometown in a vivid and in-depth conversation.
If there is something specific you would like to see or a part of history you are keen to learn more about, please let us know beforehand or tell your guide upon your arrival. Your guide will organize the lunch break according to your wishes, please let him know when you arrive.
Your tour will take you to the Reichstag, the parliament building, where a fire, allegedly lit by a communist in February of 1933, served Hitler’s pretext for a seizure of absolute power by means of an “emergency decree”. Then you are on to the Soviet War memorial, the burial place of the soldiers who took Berlin and the Reichstag. You will walk along the East-West Axis to the Brandenburg Gate, the stage for Hitler’s triumph in 1933. Close by you will see the newly completed Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
After standing at the site of Hitler’s former bunker, where he spent his last weeks, you'll get a closer look at important Nazi ministries such as Goering’s Ministry of Aviation. You will go to the Topography of Terror, where you will see the torture cellars left over from the headquarters of SS and Gestapo.
You will enjoy the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt, a monument to Old Prussian tolerance, and travel from there to the Hausvogteiplatz, the former heart of the Berlin confection industry, largely in Jewish hands at the time and destroyed by the Nazis.
You will see the former Imperial Bank, with its massive and forceful Nazi-facade, the storage location of gold stolen from raided enemies.
At the Humboldt University, you will learn about the burning of 20,000 books written by opponents of the regime and about students and professors who collaborated with the Nazi regime to remove Jewish colleagues and contributed “scientific” know-how to Hitler’s plans.
You’ll take a closer look at the Neue Wache, as well as the Lustgarten on Museum Island. Listen as your guide explains the fatal art policies of the Third Reich, before finishing up at the Jewish synagogue that, although burned in 1938, but was partly saved by a courageous policeman and the fire brigade.
Your final stop is at the former epicenter of Jewish life (a Jewish cemetery), used at one time as a collection point for deportation to the camps.
- You will receive a complimentary beverage in the vehicle on the way to Berlin. Additional beverages and snacks will be available for purchase.
Vehicle descriptions:
Mercedes E Taxi Version
Mercedes E - mid-size luxury car with nice leg room
Mercedes S - large, luxury car
Standard van - such as a VW
Luxury van - such as a Mercedes
Standard bus - regular tourist bus
Luxury bus - such as a Mercedes
- Please note it takes approximately 2.5 hours to drive between Rostock and Berlin.
- Your driver will speak little to no English. We do provide a way to communicate during your ride. Once you arrive into Berlin, you will meet your English-speaking guide.
- Lunch is not included in the price of this tour, but your guide can recommend a great place to suit your tastes.
- Please note, due to traffic, guest's wishes, political visits, etc, we might need to change the order in which the sites are visited.
Days offered: 7 days a week
Departures:- 07:30 AM, duration: 11.5 hours Tour arrives back at the ship around 7:00 p.m.
