Mags
25-06-2009, 09:25 PM
This was our last day in Berlin and the day where we were doing the Third Reich walking tour and the DDR museum. The weather forecast was appalling - rain all day, but we were going to do it. I had planned this for ages and bought the tickets from Viator, so it WAS going to be done. The bags were packed and left at reception and by 9.45 we were off!
We had to make our way to the U Bahn stop at the Zoological Gardens, which was just beside the main station (our meeting point for the tour).
The tour guide was easy to find as she had the Original Berlin Walking tours placard. Our guide was Heather, an American and incredibly knowledgeable historian. She had graduated from university in Philadelphia and had then gone to Berlin for 2 years. Having gone back to complete her Masters at Brown University, she missed Berlin so much she had to go back.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/DSC_0403.jpg
We started our tour off by heading back on the U Bahn to Mohrenstasse. When we got out we were all taken aback by the beauty of the station. The walls were covered in beautiful red Italian marble, a gift to Hitler from Mussolini. The marble was used to line the walls of Hitler's Chancellory and after the war, when the Chancellory was demolished, this was one of the ways it was used – not my picture BTW.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_H13ltSqSDyY/SG6LhhkPfXI/AAAAAAAACj0/lmEb9fHCdiw/SNV31878.JPG
I wont bore you with the details of the tour but will just post photos of the best bits.
After getting off at Mohrenstrass, we were taken to a number of locations important during the Nazi Era. Heather was so knowledgeable and had so many dates and details buried in that head of hers! I reckon she has done this tour quite a number of times. After moving between several landmarks we came to an area of the city which was one of the most important during the war – Wilhelm Strasse. This was the street where many important Nazi buildings stood, especially the Air Force Ministry building
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020500.jpg
It was built during Hitler's 'reign' but strangely enough was one of the few buildings that survived Allied bombing. I cant believe the allies missed it. It is so large. Seemingly the Germans covered it with blue tarpaulins so that the bombers would believe it was a body of water, and it worked! Those who have seen the film Valkyrie might recognise the building.
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0elocIx9YMbY7/610x.jpg
As we walked up Wilhelm Srasse we stood out of the pouring rain for a few moments at the entrance to a car park. This was where the Prince Albrecht hotel once was and was the hotel frequented by top Nazis. It has long gone, but opposite it is one of the most fascinating and historical spots in Berlin.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020503.jpg
The area to the left is where the dreaded Gestapo HQ once stood. To the right is one of three pieces of the Berlin wall that now remains, so the are to the right of the picture was once East Berlin and to the right West Berlin. Behind is a building (the name of which I cant remember) but one with the most beautiful gilt and I believe it is being restored.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020507.jpg
f you look closely you can see lots of bullet holes and shrapnel marks, a result of the ferocious final Battle of Berlin.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020509.jpg
The foundations of the Gestapo HQ are now being unearthed
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020505.jpg
and a very poignant memorial (called the Topography of Terrors) is being built. At the moment there is a series of hoardings explaining the horrors of the war such as the death camps, the persecution of the Jews and stories about those who braved the regime.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020508.jpg
It was hard going trying to take all this in as the rain fell, Florida style on our backs! There was such a lot to take in, but it was all tragically fascinating.
While we were there I couldnt help but take a photo of an old fashioned East German Trebant perched on a pillar.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020504.jpg
and the Die Welt balloon which usually flies over the city but was grounded because of the weather.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020502.jpg
As we moved on and changed stations again we came to a building which looks very 60s and modern, or so I thought. It wasnt built in the 60s but in the late 20s and was part of the Barhaus movement. Seemingly Hitler hated it as he was into classical designs fit for a Reich.
We had to make our way to the U Bahn stop at the Zoological Gardens, which was just beside the main station (our meeting point for the tour).
The tour guide was easy to find as she had the Original Berlin Walking tours placard. Our guide was Heather, an American and incredibly knowledgeable historian. She had graduated from university in Philadelphia and had then gone to Berlin for 2 years. Having gone back to complete her Masters at Brown University, she missed Berlin so much she had to go back.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/DSC_0403.jpg
We started our tour off by heading back on the U Bahn to Mohrenstasse. When we got out we were all taken aback by the beauty of the station. The walls were covered in beautiful red Italian marble, a gift to Hitler from Mussolini. The marble was used to line the walls of Hitler's Chancellory and after the war, when the Chancellory was demolished, this was one of the ways it was used – not my picture BTW.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_H13ltSqSDyY/SG6LhhkPfXI/AAAAAAAACj0/lmEb9fHCdiw/SNV31878.JPG
I wont bore you with the details of the tour but will just post photos of the best bits.
After getting off at Mohrenstrass, we were taken to a number of locations important during the Nazi Era. Heather was so knowledgeable and had so many dates and details buried in that head of hers! I reckon she has done this tour quite a number of times. After moving between several landmarks we came to an area of the city which was one of the most important during the war – Wilhelm Strasse. This was the street where many important Nazi buildings stood, especially the Air Force Ministry building
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020500.jpg
It was built during Hitler's 'reign' but strangely enough was one of the few buildings that survived Allied bombing. I cant believe the allies missed it. It is so large. Seemingly the Germans covered it with blue tarpaulins so that the bombers would believe it was a body of water, and it worked! Those who have seen the film Valkyrie might recognise the building.
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0elocIx9YMbY7/610x.jpg
As we walked up Wilhelm Srasse we stood out of the pouring rain for a few moments at the entrance to a car park. This was where the Prince Albrecht hotel once was and was the hotel frequented by top Nazis. It has long gone, but opposite it is one of the most fascinating and historical spots in Berlin.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020503.jpg
The area to the left is where the dreaded Gestapo HQ once stood. To the right is one of three pieces of the Berlin wall that now remains, so the are to the right of the picture was once East Berlin and to the right West Berlin. Behind is a building (the name of which I cant remember) but one with the most beautiful gilt and I believe it is being restored.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020507.jpg
f you look closely you can see lots of bullet holes and shrapnel marks, a result of the ferocious final Battle of Berlin.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020509.jpg
The foundations of the Gestapo HQ are now being unearthed
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020505.jpg
and a very poignant memorial (called the Topography of Terrors) is being built. At the moment there is a series of hoardings explaining the horrors of the war such as the death camps, the persecution of the Jews and stories about those who braved the regime.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020508.jpg
It was hard going trying to take all this in as the rain fell, Florida style on our backs! There was such a lot to take in, but it was all tragically fascinating.
While we were there I couldnt help but take a photo of an old fashioned East German Trebant perched on a pillar.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020504.jpg
and the Die Welt balloon which usually flies over the city but was grounded because of the weather.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/margaretconvery/P1020502.jpg
As we moved on and changed stations again we came to a building which looks very 60s and modern, or so I thought. It wasnt built in the 60s but in the late 20s and was part of the Barhaus movement. Seemingly Hitler hated it as he was into classical designs fit for a Reich.