Berlin Cold War History Tour

Explore the deep divisions between East and West Berlin during the 20th century
From US$439 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Karl-Marx-Allee
  • Hansa Quarter
Photos & Highlights
  • Examines history of Cold War Berlin through an architectural lens
  • Led by local architect or historian
Select a date
Tour Description
As Europe began to rebuild following the wreckage of the Second World War, Berlin was instead cleaved in two: East Berlin, under Soviet control, and West Berlin, an “island of democracy” deep inside East German territory. On this 3-hour Berlin Cold War tour we will join a local architectural historian for an in-depth comparison of East and West. We'll focus mainly on buildings and landscapes to build a compelling picture of a divided city and fractured years.

A Model Project of Soviet Architecture

We begin our discussion in the east side of the city, at Frankfurter Tor on Karl-Marx-Allee. A striking example of Berlin's boulevards, this avenue reminds us that part of the history of the two Berlins is recorded in the naming and renaming of streets and sites. Stalinallee’s immense boulevard was the primary focus of East Germany’s post-war development project, attempting to reorganize Berlin’s urban landscape and stressing the political and visual importance of the city center. In the shadows of the Frankfurter Tor’s twin towers, we will discuss the 1950 decision by communist East German leadership to do away with the “cosmopolitan fantasies” of modernist, decentralized planning and to create instead a monumental architecture capable of embodying the promise of a new socialist society.

The West’s Response: Democracy and Commerce

After uncovering the layers of meaning in the architecture of the former East, we will hop on Berlin’s historic S-Bahn train line and cross to the West. Here, we will explore West Berlin’s response to the communist model of Stalinallee: the reconstructed Hansa Quarter.


In this neighborhood, in ruins since the Second World War, a host of internationally prominent architects designed a series of individual, overtly modernist buildings scattered across the green, park-like area. We'll discuss how the spaces and structures embody Western principles of freedom, individuality, and the non-authoritarian order of democracy and the marketplace.

Berlin Cold War Tour

By the end of our time together we will have investigated how architecture and urban planning in Berlin were one of the main fronts in the political and ideological struggle of the Cold War. We'll also be newly equipped with an insightful perspective that will transform the way we see the city thereafter.


For help planning your visit to an icon of the city’s Cold War history, see our guide on how to tour the Berlin Wall, or join us for our Berlin Wall tour.
Experts
Sven Sven
Architect
Robert Robert
Historian
Finn Finn
Historian
John John
Historian
Andreas Andreas
Local Guide
Igor Igor
Local Guide
Jamie Jamie
Archaeologist
Nina Nina
Art Historian
Lauren Lauren
Historian
Chris Chris
Historian
Jochen Jochen
Local Guide
Jasmine Jasmine
Artist and Designer
Lucia Lucia
Architect
Rachel Rachel
Local Guide
Dora Dora
Historian
Asaf Asaf
Local Guide
Jan Jan
Architect
Where You'll Start
(4.78) 71 Reviews

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The tour was fascinating. Sven was very well informed and told interesting stories about Berlin during and after the Cold War. We came away with a whole new view of the city.
Great tour!
Great tour, really learned a lot