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Since the end of World War II and until the beginning of the 90’s, the history of Berlin has permanently been engraved by the presence of the four victors of the War and the Wall dividing West and East Berlin in two. This tour first leads visitors behind the scene of the former East Berlin and focuses on the divided city.
At first, guests will visit the “Soviet Monument” in the Treptow Park: more than 5,000 soviet soldiers fallen at the end of World War II were buried there. On the top of a hill, a huge statue bears in remembrance the sacrifice of the soldiers killed to liberate Germany from the Nazism. Just a few hundreds of meters away from the park, we will pass the famous „East Side Gallery”, the longest open-air gallery in the world. It is actually one of the last authentic part of the Wall which separated the East from the West, along the Spree River. Artists from all over the world came to Berlin after the Wall fell to paint not only interesting and challenging murals, but politically provocative ones as well.
Coming back to the city center of the former East Berlin, visitors will then discover the very unique street „Karl-Marx-Avenue“ which was planned as a „palace for workers“ in the fifties: several hundreds of apartments were built in the 50’s according to higher standards of comfort to offer workers the feeling of a life in a better world. The street was never completely finished but nevertheless, it gives you an idea of this amazing project.
We will then drive past the airport of Tempelhof which was a peculiar witness of the shared Berlin. During the soviet blockade of Berlin from 1948 to 1949, the US troops provided the West-sector with food and coal during more than one year through the so-called air-lift: every minute, a “Rosinenbomber” (“Raisin bomber”) started at that time in Frankfurt and landed in West-Berlin.
The tour continues to the Wall Museum in the “Haus am Checkpoint Charlie”: From August 1961 to October 1990, Checkpoint Charlie was the border crossing point for diplomats, allied military and foreigners (neither Germans, nor Berliners were allowed to pass through).
“Charlie” was the third border crossing in the American Sector, between East and West Berlin. "Alpha" was in Helmstedt - the border crossing between West and East Germany. "Bravo" was in Dreilinden -the border crossing between East Germany and West Berlin. Guests will then have the possibility to visit “Haus am Check-Point Charlie”: During the building of the wall in August 1961, Checkpoint Charlie was the famous place where American and Soviet tanks had their stand off - with motors running and guns loaded. The famous and emotionally moving museum houses memorabilia from the history of the Wall, as well as photographs, stories of successful and unsuccessful escapes, etc.
Tour includes entrance to the “Haus am Check-Point Charlie” Wall Museum.
EUR 34 incl. VAT
Monday 22 June 2009 09:00-13:00
 
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