Third Reich Walking Tour (Self Guided), Berlin

Reichstag, or the German Parliament Building, is one of Berlin's most iconic landmarks. In some way, it serves as a symbol of Germany's political evolution, closely intertwined with pivotal events in the country's history, from the German Empire through the Nazi era, the division of East and West Germany, and the eventual reunification. While the term "Reichstag" historically referred to the legislative body, today it primarily denotes the building itself. As for the institution within, it is known as the "Bundestag."

The Neo-Baroque building was constructed after Germany’s unification in 1871 and was completed in 1894. In 1916, much to the displeasure of the last German Emperor, Wilhelm II, the words "To the German People" were prominently carved into the frieze above the entrance. Symbolically, two years later, the German–Weimar Republic was officially proclaimed here. In 1933, the building was set on fire, which led to the Reichstag Fire Decree, allowing the Nazis to suppress civil liberties. The building was not used for parliamentary sessions under Nazi rule and served different functions throughout World War II.

During the Cold War, the Reichstag remained in ruins in West Berlin and wasn’t used as a parliamentary seat. The building hosted occasional events and exhibitions, as well as concerts during the 1980s.

Notably, on 3 October 1990, the official German reunification ceremony was held inside the Reichstag, attended by Chancellor Helmut Kohl and other prominent figures. Subsequently, the German government and parliament moved from Bonn to Berlin.

In 1995, architect Norman Foster redesigned the building, adding a symbolic glass dome that represents transparency and openness in government. The dome offers a 360-degree view of Berlin and allows natural light to reach the parliament floor below. A sun shield electronically tracks and blocks direct sunlight to prevent glare. Completed in 1999, the building became the seat of the Federal Republic of Germany's Parliament – Bundestag – that April. The dome, now a major landmark, is open to the public with prior registration and allows visitors to observe parliamentary proceedings below.

The refurbished Reichstag also preserved historical elements such as the Soviet Army graffiti left in 1945.

Tips:
Plan your visit in advance, as security measures require booking and a valid ID for entry. Consider reserving a table in the Käfer DACHGARTEN to skip queues, and remember to dress warmly, as the dome's "windows" are open, and it can get rather chilly up there.

Officially the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, this striking sprawl of concrete near the Brandenburg Gate serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance for the individuals who fell victim to the Nazis between 1933 and 1945.

Unveiled to the public in 2005, the memorial was designed by American architect Peter Eisenman. It comprises over 2,700 concrete slabs of varying heights and sizes, arranged in a grid-like formation across a gently sloping terrain of some 19,000 square meters.

The memorial aims to evoke an uneasy, confusing atmosphere that represents a supposedly ordered system losing touch with human reason. The abstract design has no symbolic significance, according to Eisenman, yet it resembles a cemetery, creating room for various interpretations. Some see it as a graveyard for those unburied or thrown into unmarked pits, while others suggest it represents the rigid bureaucratic order that enabled the Holocaust.

The memorial’s layout creates feelings of isolation and entrapment. As visitors move through the concrete slabs, the space shifts, evoking the loss of identity and forced segregation experienced by Jews during the Nazi regime. The downward slope into the memorial, where slabs grow taller and block out the view of Berlin, symbolizes the gradual escalation of the Third Reich's persecution.

The unfinished appearance of some structures is seen as a reminder that the process of remembering the Holocaust is ongoing. Some interpret the spatial separation of blocks as representing the incomplete nature of memory. Overall, the memorial denies any sense of collectivity, reflecting individual and societal responsibility for the past, while the surrounding trees and city borders evoke feelings of entrapment, symbolizing the isolation faced by Jews during the Holocaust.

Once found beneath the garden of the New Reich Chancellery in Berlin, the Führerbunker, a network of fortified concrete chambers, served as the nerve center of the Nazi regime until the final days of World War II in Europe. Having taken up residence in the shelter on 16 January 1945, Hitler celebrated his 56th birthday on April 20 and married Eva Braun 9 there days later, before they both committed suicide on April 30: he with a revolver, she by poison. Allegedly, their lifeless bodies were carried to the Chancellery courtyard and drenched in 200 liters of gasoline, with Nazi supporters saluting as the corpses turned to ashes. Meanwhile, as the Soviet forces raised the red flag atop the Reichstag building, nearly all of the 800 or so bunker occupants made a desperate attempt to escape via railway tunnels in northern Berlin. About a hundred of them managed to succeed, while the remainder either met their demise or were captured.

In the post-war period, both the old and new Chancellery structures were razed by Soviet forces. Despite some attempts at demolition, the subterranean complex remained mostly untouched until 1988–89 when sections of it were uncovered (and mostly destroyed) during the neighborhood's redevelopment as a residential area. The Führerbunker site remained unmarked until 2006 when a small plaque was installed, providing detailed information and a schematic diagram. The bunker's emergency exit point, which once led to the Chancellery gardens, was occupied by a parking lot.

Shortly after Adolf Hitler assumed the position of Reich Chancellor of Germany in January 1933, Joseph Goebbels, chief propagandist of the Nazi party, was rewarded for his part in helping the Nazis seize power. He was appointed as the Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, holding a seat in the Cabinet. The role of the new ministry, which took over palatial accommodation in the 18th-century Leopold Palace, just across from Hitler's offices in the Reich Chancellery, was to centralize Nazi control of all aspects of German cultural and intellectual life, news media, literature, visual arts, filmmaking, theatre, music, and broadcasting. An unspoken aim was to convey to the world that the Nazi Party enjoyed full and enthusiastic support from the entire population.

A significant focus of propaganda efforts centered on Hitler himself, who was glorified as a heroic and infallible leader and became the focus of a cult of personality. Some of this adulation was spontaneous, while other aspects were carefully orchestrated as part of Goebbels' propaganda machinery. An example of the latter can be seen in the 1934 Nuremberg Rally, which marked one of the first carefully choreographed events where Hitler's actions were staged for the camera. This rally was the subject of the film "Triumph of the Will", one of several Nazi propaganda films directed by Leni Riefenstahl.

With nationalist socialist architecture expressed in the building's structure and façade design, the Propaganda Ministry grew steadily from five departments and 350 employees in 1933 to seventeen departments and 2,000 employees by 1939. World War II witnessed a significantly heightened level of propaganda, particularly through the emerging media of film, newsreels, and radio broadcasting. Thanks to practical experience and the scientific study of propaganda in Europe and the United States, propaganda efforts were meticulously planned, giving rise to a new era of psychological warfare.

Hermann Goering's air force headquarters, known as the Ministry of Aviation, stood as the largest office building in Europe at the time of its construction. Described as a prime example of National Socialist intimidation architecture by a writer, this imposing edifice had seven stories, a sprawling floor area of 112,000 square meters (1,210,000 square feet), 2,800 rooms, a network of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) of corridors, over 4,000 windows, 17 stairways, and used stone sourced from no fewer than 50 quarries. It accommodated the expanding bureaucracy of the Luftwaffe, along with Germany's civil aviation authority, which also had its offices there, yet it took a mere 18 months to build, with laborers toiling in double shifts and even on Sundays. The first 1,000 rooms were completed in just eight months, with a total workforce of 4,000 bureaucrats and their secretaries occupying the premises upon completion.

Remarkably, the building was one of the few in central Berlin to escape serious damage during the Allied bombing offensive in 1944-45. Following World War II, it served as the headquarters for the Soviet military administration until 1948, and from 1947 to 1949, it housed the German Economic Commission, which functioned as the principal administrative body in the Soviet Occupation Zone.

Between 1950 and 1952, an extraordinary 18-meter (59-foot) long mural was crafted along Leipziger Strasse. Set back behind pillars and made out of Meissen porcelain tiles, it was created by the German painter and commercial artist Max Lingner together with 14 artisans, depicting the Socialist ideal of contented East Germans facing a bright future as one united and joyous family.

From 1991 to 1995, after German reunification, the former Ministry housed the Trust Establishment ("Treuhand"), responsible for privatizing enterprises previously operated by the East German government. Its chairman lost his life to Red Army Faction terrorists in 1991, and the building was renamed the Detlev-Rohwedder-Haus in his honor. Starting from 1990, the office of the German Finance Ministry was also located here, and since 1999, following a vast refurbishment, the structure has continued to serve as the Ministry's headquarters.

Charting the history of persecution in Germany and the rise of Nazi/SS organizations, Topography of Terror stands as a chilling testament to one of the most brutal interrogation agencies in history, rivaling even the Inquisition. Although the buildings that once housed the Gestapo and SS headquarters were largely obliterated by Allied bombing in early 1945 and subsequently razed after the war, the outer wall of this site managed to endure, now serving as the backdrop for an outdoor chronological exhibition featuring photographs and documents. Adjacent to this, visitors can explore the excavated basement of a Gestapo headquarters from the Third Reich era.

A must-see for anyone seeking to understand the dark history of the Nazi party, the indoor museum is thoughtfully housed in a modern and well-lit building, complete with a café and free restrooms. While the content can be emotionally challenging to absorb, it is presented with clarity and objectivity, organized into distinct themes that encompass various countries and groups of people. The curation excels in its blend of photographs, letters, documents, and audiovisual materials, which collectively narrate a deeply troubling story in a sensitive but unflinching manner. Before delving into the exhibits, it is advisable to store coats and bags in the provided lockers and embark on the highly informative self-guided audio tour.

Tip:
When exploring the outdoor memorial storyboard, start from the left side, and if visiting in winter, dress warmly as it can be quite cold. Additionally, consider joining the free English tour at 3:30pm on Sundays for a quicker overview without delving into every panel.

Located in Berlin's Mitte district, the German Resistance Memorial Center serves as a poignant reminder of the daring coup attempt that unfolded on July 20, 1944, against the oppressive National Socialist regime. This pivotal event, known as the "20 July Plot" or "Operation Valkyrie", was led by a group of German officers and civilians during World War II, whose primary objective was to assassinate Adolf Hitler and overthrow the tyrannical Nazi regime ruling Germany, in the hopes of creating an opportunity to establish a new government that would end the war and prevent further devastation caused by regime.

Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg played a central role in this audacious plot. His deep disillusionment with Hitler's ideology and the heinous actions committed by the Nazis fueled his determination to take action. On July 20, 1944, von Stauffenberg, alongside other high-ranking officers, attended a military conference at the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in East Prussia. Concealing a bomb inside a briefcase, he placed it under a table near Hitler during the meeting. Despite causing casualties and chaos, the explosion only resulted in minor injuries to the dictator, and he survived the assassination attempt; however, the plot's subsequent exposure triggered a swift and brutal crackdown on the conspirators. Many were arrested, subjected to interrogations, and executed in the ensuing days and weeks.

Today, visitors to the Memorial Center can explore the historic rooms and courtyards where key members of the German resistance operated and where the plot was organized. By showcasing the bravery and determination of these individuals, the institution encourages reflection, education, and a deeper understanding of the intricate history of resistance against totalitarian regimes.