The German capital's National Socialist architectural heritage is extremely limited. Post-war reconstruction erased all traces of the hated regime, notably the Chancellery, which was razed to the ground. The few remaining spaces are now dedicated to the memory of the crimes committed. Other buildings, however, have undergone astonishing conversion. Here's a list of places to visit to get a feel for Nazi Germany in Berlin.
1. Olympic Stadium in Westend
An architectural jewel of Hitler's Germany, the Olympic Stadium has retained its original appearance, only disturbed by the addition of bleacher seats and a modern roof. The grandiose architecture reflects National Socialist ambitions: the construction of a new empire worthy of Antiquity. The Germanic towers, the Olympic bell, the heroic statues and the Mayflower are unequivocal: the Olympic Stadium of the 1936 Games is not a sports stadium. Absolutely remarkable and a must-see!
Visit duration: 1-2 hours
2. Sachsenhausen Memorial in Oranienbourg
The Sachsenhausen Memorial is located on the site of a former concentration camp 30 kilometers from Berlin. A dozen buildings remain, some of which have been reconstructed for the purposes of the memorial. Nevertheless, the gigantic scale of the complex is impressive, and the decentralized exhibitions provide a surprisingly entertaining and comprehensive tour of the site. The Sachsenhausen Memorial has also chosen to deal as much with the victims as with the executioners. A visit to the site requires you to take the necessary time.
Visit duration: 2-3 hours
3. Unterwelten - Dark Worlds in Gesundbrunnen
The Unterwelten association organizes a tour of a former air-raid shelter, where civilians took refuge when the city was bombed. Period furniture and objects recovered during excavations are now on display in several rooms. The layout of the premises is striking, with its false landings and non-aligned corridors. The shelter could accommodate several hundred people in an unimaginably cramped environment. Unterwelten is an opportunity to discover a long-forgotten heritage.
Visit duration: 90 minutes
4. Wannsee Conference House
The Wannsee Conference House is a unique memorial in Berlin, as it focuses on the perspective of the executioners. It was in this opulent villa in January 1942 that some 15 technocrats agreed on the terms codifying the destruction of Europe's Jews. The background and motivations of the participants are described at length. The industrial extermination process appears to be the result of a complete and unfailing mobilization of all government departments. A deeply moving experience.
Visit duration: 90-120 minutes
5. German Resistance Memorial in Tiergarten
The German Resistance Memorial looks at the fate of organizations, parties and individuals who, in one way or another, opposed the National Socialist regime. The exhibits are based on extensive iconography, and the biographical element dominates. Conspiracy, sabotage, assassination attempts and the beginnings of a democratic project are all evoked. Without falling into denial, the memorial reveals the existence of another Germany, albeit a groupuscular one.
Visit duration: 2-3 hours
6. Topography of Terror in Kreuzberg
The Topography of Terror is a documentation center dedicated to National Socialism and its crimes. The new building stands on the site of the former Reich Central Security Office. The exhibits are based solely on the exhaustive contribution of high-quality iconography. These masterful photos perfectly illustrate the organization of terror and crime. Explanatory graphics and a brief description complete the information.
Visit duration: 1-2 hours
7. Bundeswehr Museum of Military History in Gatow
Totally off the beaten track, the former British airfield at Gatow is home to the collections of the Bundeswehr Military History Museum. The main focus is on aircraft used in naval aviation and air defense. While the focus is not exclusively on the National Socialist period, a number of period military items are on display in a hangar: Messerschmidt and Focke-Wulf fighters, anti-DCA batteries and V1-type Wunderwaffen. This tour is for military history buffs only.
Visit duration: 60-90 minutes
8. German-Russian Museum in Karlhorst
The German-Russian Museum is dedicated to the memory of the war on the Eastern Front. Its main building was the site of the German surrender on May 8, 1945 Berlin time, May 9, 1945 Moscow time. Exhibits focus on the military aspects of the conflict, with a display of armaments inside, and several artillery pieces and armored vehicles of the former Soviet Red Army outside. This small, out-of-the-way museum is well worth a visit for military history buffs.
Visit duration: 45-60 minutes
9. Forced-Labor Documentation Center in Schöneweide
From 1943 onwards, several million Europeans were deported to Germany to take part in the war effort and replace German workers and farmers leaving for the front. The Schöneweide camp was unique in that it was located in the very heart of the capital, in full view of the public. Several nationalities were interned here, including many Italians. The site is relatively well preserved, and a visit to the current documentation center provides an insight into an often forgotten part of the Second World War.
Visit duration: 60-90 minutes
10. Former Ministry of Aviation in Mitte
Built in 1935, the imposing Ministry of Aviation survived bombing raids during the war. Its history is a funny one. It became the House of Ministries during the GDR, and is now the headquarters of the German Federal Ministry of Finance. The Hitler symbols have been removed, but the martial architecture of the Third Reich remains. The building's neo-classical National Socialist style can be admired from the street. A short tour through the overlapping histories of 20th-century Germany.
Visit duration: 5-10 minutes
Discover the Remains of Nazi Germany in Berlin
The architectural legacy of National Socialist Germany is extremely limited in Berlin. Wartime destruction, denazification and democratization have erased traces of the Third Reich from the public realm. It's a process that has been carried through with good reason. Far from being an obscure form of tourism, a visit to these sites is first and foremost part of a political education.
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