Berlin - Third Reich To The Cold War

Berlin - Third Reich To The Cold War Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

This itinerary combines highlights that are of interest to all ages.

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.

In respect to Berlin’s topography and the location of sites, we follow a storyline starting at the Third Reich and ending with the Cold War.

We will drive through the East of Berlin, where you will stop at the Berlin Wall Memorial to see some remaining parts of the Wall.

Your tour will take you at 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 we are on to the Soviet War Memorial, the burial place of the soldiers who took Berlin and the Reichstag.

You'll walk along the East-West Axis to the Brandenburg Gate, and to the newly completed Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. After standing on the former site of Hitler’s bunker, where he spent his last weeks, you'll get to take a closer look at important Nazi ministries such as Goering’s Ministry of Aviation.

Of course, you will pass by Checkpoint Charlie, where close-by you will see the Topography of Terrors, the torture cellars left over from the headquarters of SS and Gestapo and the entertainment palace where Hitler held his first speech in Berlin and where Jews and opponents were later gathered for deportation.

You will pass by the East Side Gallery, the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall and have a look to the Karl-Marx Allée (former Staline Allee), the must-see central boulevard of the former GDR, erected in the unique Soviet "sugar bakery" style.

As you travel through the city, your guide will direct your attention to historical sites as you pass them, such as the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt, a monument to Old Prussian tolerance.

You will learn about the role of the former Imperial Bank, with its massive and forceful Nazi-facade, the storage location of gold stolen from raided enemies.

We will continue past Humboldt University, where 20,000 books written by opponents of the regime were burned, and students and professors collaborated with the Nazi regime to remove Jewish colleagues and contribute “scientific” know-how to Hitler’s plans.

You will have 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.

- 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 Warnemunde 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.
- Admissions are not included in the tour as this tour allows for some modifications.
- Please note, due to traffic, guest's wishes, political visits, etc, we might need to change the order in which the sites are visited.
- This trip does not include time to visit the inside of the Reichstag or the Pergamon Museum. These sites normally take about 2 hours each and there is not enough time.

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.