We have a new walking tour on 17th May. In the style as our other tours, it focuses on the events surrounding one aspect of the battle of Berlin.
This tour centres on combat in Neukölln between the Red Army and French and Scandinavian SS units. If interested, PM for details.
Posts by Berlin Battle Damage
The Bendlerblock courtyard was the site of execution of the main plotters in the July 20th 1944 attempt on Hitler’s life. After being shot they were buried in the Alter St Matthäus Kirchhof on Yorckstraße. They were then exhumed by the SS and cremated. A memorial marks the site.
Typo. It was built in 1937 !
Krampnitz Kaserne was built in 1837 and was the home to cavalry and later armoured units until its capture by the Soviets in April 1945, who used it until their departure in 1994. It has lain abandoned ever since, but dramatic reminders of its previous occupants still remain.
Some walking tours coming up. See the first photo for details and drop me a line if you’re interested in joining a tour.
On a wooded hillside near the Olympic Stadium is the remains of the Herold 1 Luftwaffe command and communications bunker complex. It’s a huge complex sprawling across nearly a kilometre of hillside with numerous bunker remains, concrete roads, fences and Einmanbunkers.
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church. Badly damaged in air raids and the battle for the city. See first photo for more information.
March walking tours -
On Saturday 14th we will walk the route of the German breakout attempt along Friedrichstraße on 1/2nd May 1945 and on Sunday 15th we follow the progress of the Red Army through Schöneberg and over the Landwehr Canal.
PM for more details and to reserve a place.
In the North West corner of Potsdamer Platz, at the entrance to the DB building is an almost forgotten relic of WW2. An original, shrapnel scarred S Bahn sign which stood at the station entrance in a once beautiful part of the city, later ravaged by WW2 and the Cold War.
We are starting this years walking tours a bit earlier than anticipated so on 24th January I’ll be running a tour dealing with the German breakout attempt along Friedrichstraße on 1/2nd May 1945. The tour lasts 1.5 hours and will be in English. Send a PM for more details. Thanks.
Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. A special shout out to everyone who attended one of our walking tours. It was a pleasure to meet every one of you. Keep a lookout for walking tour dates in 2026.
Pictured is the beautiful Rosa Luxemburg Platz.
Belle Alliance Platz, now Mehringplatz was the scene of heavy fighting Between the Soviet 8th Guards Army and the SS Nordland who had retreated from Neukölln and taken up positions on the Northern side of the Landwehr canal.
Yes, it fired off a lot of rounds. I wonder if the crew survived.
The aftermath of the German breakout attempt along Schönhauser Allee on May 2nd 1945 and how it looks today. The Tiger II was from SS Panzer Regiment 503 and began its breakout on Friedrichstraße and the Panther was from Panzer Division Müncheberg.
Thanks to all who came on a walking tour this year. It was great to meet you and share the history of WW2 Berlin.
There won’t be any more group tours this year but if anyone is interested in a private tour on 5,6 or 7th November then drop me a message to discuss. Thanks again.
The Karstadt department store on Hermannplatz was the biggest and grandest store in Europe until 26th April 1945 when it was blown up by SS Nordland troops to deny the Soviets a high vantage point over the city. Only a small section survived which was incorporated into the existing building.
A few then and now photos from Tempelhof. Wrecked German aircraft litter the perimeter track in May 1945 and the same views today. Note the Soviet IL-2 in the first photo and the restored Focke Wulf Condor in the background of the last photo.
The beautiful Focke-Wulf 200 Condor on display at Tempelhof Airport, pictured today.
Good afternoon. I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We are running four walking tours in September. They will be in English. Details are in the photos. There are still places available on all the tours. Send a message for more information. Thanks.
And was previously the barracks of the SS Leibstandarte.
Strange. I’m now following you so try again. If that doesn’t work tell me which tours you’re interested in and I’ll reply with all the info.
Hi. There are places still available on all the tours. See photo for more details. Send a message for more information if you’re interested.
September’s walking tours updated. See first pic for details. Thanks.
Hi. Our next walking tours will take place on Sept 7th, 8th, 13th and 14th. I will post details of the subject of the tours later but message anytime if any of these dates are of interest. I can also do private tours from 3rd September till the 15th apart from the above dates.
Puttkamerstraße 16/18 was a Luftwaffe supply depot where troops were able to purchase items beyond their normal issue uniform, such as this rubberised coat.
The building survived WW2 with only minor shrapnel marks and what looks like an iron projectile embedded in one lower wall.
Originally posted in 2021 but worth a repost. The aftermath of carnage on Oberwallstraße, May 1945. Other photos taken at the time show that the vehicles display the insignia of the SS Nordland Division.
The Schule für Heeresmotorisierung in Wünsdorf was once part of the Wehrmachts tank training school, focusing on technical training. After the war, the Soviets turned the facility into a school for soviet military children known as "School Nr. 1".
digitalcosmonaut.com/schule-fuer-...
Due to high demand for the walking tour on 5th July, we will be running an extra tour on Thursday 10th July. The subject will be the German breakout attempt on Friedrichstraße on 1st/2nd May 1945. Message if interested. Thanks.
The next walking tour will be on 5th July. I’ll be combining two tours. A bit of pre WW2 history of Nazi Berlin, then the Soviet push into Mitte via Prenzlauer Berg and the German breakout attempt on Friedrichstraße. Message for more details. Thanks.
Such a shame that they built that fence around part of it.