“If only one man dies of hunger, that is a tragedy. If millions die, that is only a statistic.”
– Originally attributed to Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin (1879 – 1953) by Washington Post columnist Leonard Lyons.
Tour Overview
Join your personal expert on a private historical deep-dive into one of the definitive battles of WWII. The Battle of Berlin, otherwise known as the “Fall of Berlin” symbolised the final collapse of the Nazi Regime, and culminated not only in the suicide of Adolf Hitler, but also the unconditional surrender of Berlin and the eventual end of WWII in Europe.
Through this tour we will explore in-depth the key strategic moments of the battle, discover lasting evidence of the fierce fighting which took place and discuss the impact of the battle in what happened to Berlin after the end of WWII.
The Battle of Berlin: Historical Background
After a terrible four years of war, during which the Nazi war machine killed at least twenty-seven million Soviet soldiers and civilians, the Red Army finally reached the eastern bank of the Oder River on January 31st, 1945.
There they gathered their strength, until on April 16th 1945 they launched the offensive that is today known as the Battle of Berlin. The brutal conflict involved roughly 2.5 million Soviet soldiers and 800,000 NSDAP German defenders. Of the latter, around 100,000 became trapped within the city limits by April 30th.
The entire campaign featured some of the deadliest fighting in recorded military history. Soviet forces were eager to end what they knew as their “Great Patriotic War,” while the capital itself was defended by a haphazard collection of demoralized fighters. These included Wehrmacht veterans from the Germany armed forces, Heinrich Himmler’s fanatically loyal “Waffen-SS” and even a few foreign nationals (including Frenchmen, Belgians, and Norwegians among others) who found themselves resisting the overwhelming tide in SS uniforms due to their strong opposition to communism.
The battle left a trail of destruction in its wake, along with massive human cost. On our tour we will explore both, as well as how the battle changed the course of post-war Germany for good.
Tour Flexibility
This tour is a private experience with your own personal expert, and is perfect for those with a deep interest in military history. We include a private vehicle and driver, to allow you to see sights slightly further out of the centre, but please contact us if you’d prefer to do a similar tour on foot.
We are always happy to tailor the tour to your wishes. If there are particular moments or sights you would like to explore in depth, please let us know and we can create the perfect experience for you. Please use the contact form below to enquire, or book online here.
