Private tour in Berlin Matthew R
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Matthew R.
5.0
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A chance encounter with a Cold War spy in Berlin led me to stumble into tour guiding 19 years ago after moving to the German capital as an aspiring writer from my native England. Assured that not only did I. . . "know a lot about German history" but also. . . "didn't mind embarassing myself in front of large groups of people" - the basic requirements for a Berlin tour guide at the time - I was hired by a local tour company and began what has since turned into my passion and profession. Over the years I have introduced thousands of visitors to Berlin: from independent travellers, families, companies and schools - to Holocaust survivors rediscovering the streets they once called home and the relatives of Nazi perpetrators seeking answers to the crimes within their families. Although due to my professional background I specialise in Berlin's 'heavy history' of the 20th century (the era of Adolf Hitler's so-called 'Third Reich' and 'Cold War' period), I also understand it would be impossible to understand the big picture when it comes to Berlin without the context of previous chapters in say Prussian and early medieval history - and the city's more uplifting contemporary realities. Adding context to Berlin's history is, for me, one of the most rewarding aspects of being a tour guide. As such, although I do offer historical experiences of Berlin exploring the distinct periods in the city's past, I always tailor my tours to my clients wishes, expectations, and previous knowledge. Of course, we can visit the major places in the city - the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie etc - but the quirky, comical, and often secret details are what many people will remember beyond these sights. As Berlin is a city that is more than the simple sum of its landmarks, and is best experienced that way. There is something for everyone here; and the stories of this city echo across the world. Come explore and find your Berlin. 20 years experience (Berlin guide since 2005) President Emeritus - Berlin Guides Association (BBS) 2018-2020 Rick Steves Partner Guide 2023-25 Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial License Former East German Secret Police Headquarters - Stasi Museum Historical Consultant BA Journalism (Hons) First Aid Certified I am not a driver, but can arrange for a vehicle and driver at an additional cost - upon request.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Matthew R.
Retrace the route of the Red Army advance into Berlin's central district - Defense Sector Zitadelle - from the arrival of the first Soviet troops on the city's outskirts to the surrender of the city and final Nazi capitulation on May 8th 1945 in the suburb of Karlshorst. Explore what remains of this urban battlefield and follow in the footsteps of the bloody 'Race to the Reichstag'. Seventeen decisive days that ensured the defeat of National Socialism and end of WWII in Europe - in the largest confrontation between Allied and Axis forces on German soil. This tour is an opportunity to discover the story of the Battle of Berlin through the eyes of the defenders, the Soviet personnel tasked with attacking the city, but also the millions of civilians who would share the burden. This bitterly contested battle would leave Berlin almost unrecognisable to visitors fortunate enough to have witnessed the German capital in its pre-war splendour. A city that still today bears the scars of this ultimate confrontation.
- The Soviet War Memorial in the Tiergarten - The Brandenburg Gate/Pariser Platz - The Reichstag - The Moltke Brücke - The Siegessaule - Last Headquarters Of The Berlin Defensive Area - The Site Of The Führerbunker - The Site Of The New Reich Chancellery - The Former SS-Gestapo Headquarters - The Route Of The Martin Bormann/Artur Axmann Escape - The Route Of The 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division Nordland - Shrapnel Damage On Georgenstrasse - The Former Nazi Parade Ground Of Lustgarten/Museum Island - The Former Hitler Youth Headquarters - The Humboldthain Flak Tower - The Groterjahn Brewery - The Frankfurter Allee POW route - The First Liberated House In Mahlsdorf - The Site Of The German Surrender (Berlin-Karlshorst Museum) - The Soviet Memorial In Treptower Park - Tempelhof Airport - The Site Of The Surrender Of Berlin - The Site Of The Sergeant Makarov Rescue Story - The ruined Anhalter Bahnhof
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Tour includes private transportation in a Volkswagen Caravelle/Mercedes Benz V-class. Separate guide and driver.
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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