WWII Nazi Munich Tour: Hitler and the Third Reich

Trace Munich's history through its darkest period with a local historian.

$321 and up

Private

N/A

Small group

Tour Details

About the Tour

Category: History
Duration: 3 hours
Location: Munich

Photos & Highlights

Led by a local historian with Third Reich expertise
Optional add-on Dachau Memorial Site Excursion
Hofbrauhaus and Haus der Kunst

Tour Description

Munich: the birthplace of the Nazis. But how and why? How did Adolf Hitler and the Nazis rise to power in Germany, ultimately committing one of the greatest atrocities in human history? On this 3-hour WW2 Nazi Munich Tour led by a historian, we will explore the early life of Adolf Hitler from his move to Munich in 1913 to his involvement in the DAP, and the subsequent rise of the Nazis from the 1920s. Visiting some of the most crucial sites in the “Hauptstadt der Bewegung"—the Capital of the Movement, or the birthplace of the Nazi Party, we’ll examine the rise of the Third Reich, the horrors and tragedies of their regime, and the events and circumstances that led to their grasp of German politics. Our tour may include visits to the Haus der Kunst and the Hofbräuhaus beer hall.

You can also select to add a visit to the Dachau Memorial Site and former concentration camp, which would make this a full-day experience with one of our history experts.

WW2 Nazi Munich Tour

We begin our WW2 Nazi Munich Tour at Marienplatz, from which we are able to introduce the themes of our tour and dive off in the direction our guide chooses. We might go to the former Sterneckerbräu, a Munich brewery which gained fame as the place where the first branch of the German Workers’ Party (DAP) met, before becoming the Nazi Party (NSDAP). We'll visit today’s Hofbräuhaus, another brewery which helped propel Hitler to the center political stage and where he gave his first speech in 1920. We’ll continue on our WW2 Nazi Munich Tour to Feldherrnhalle and Odeonsplatz as we discuss how this location took on new significance in the run-up to the Nazi power takeover. A former memorial to the Bavarian army, Feldherrnhalle was the site of the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 and for future parades, rallies, and Nazi meetings. Here, we could discuss the evolution of this important space over the Nazi rule and the visible damage that can be seen today from the fallout for the constant bombings throughout WW2.

Scholl Siblings and Resistance

After visiting the Feldherrnhalle, our guide may spend time in the Hofgarten talking about the Scholl siblings and the resistance to the Nazi regime during WW2 (the Weiße Rose, or White Rose, movement). From here, we’ll move to the Haus der Kunst, Nazi Germany’s first building designed specifically to demonstrate Nazi architecture and propaganda. We will pass by former NSDAP buildings such as Reinhard Heydrich's office, the former Gestapo HQ, and the site where Hitler first met Eva Braun. We’ll finish in the area of Munich that was the administrative district of the Nazi Party during the 1930s and 40s. As we spend some time in and around Königsplatz (where the Party held mass rallies/book burnings) our guide will discuss the ‘Führerbau’. This building was where the famous Munich Agreement was signed in 1938: a document which world leaders, such as Neville Chamberlain, strongly believed would avert another world war.

If you are interested in extending your day to include a visit to Dachau Memorial Site, please select the option at checkout. This will be a 9-hour day, meeting for a morning tour at 9 am, followed by a brief lunch (at own expense) before getting the train to the Dachau Memorial Site. We will spend 3 hours on-site before traveling back to Munich together, finishing around 6 pm. Transport to Dachau is included.
Alternatively, you can visit the Dachau Memorial Site on your second day in Munich on our Dachau Day Trips tour.

Take Aways

At the end of our three hour WW2 Nazi Munich Tour, we will have encountered the ghostly spaces of Munich’s dark history, but not in an attempt to sensationalize or historicize the years of Hitler’s ascent to power. Instead, we will have returned to those events of the not-yet-distant past in order to forge a connection to the present and understand how the history still shapes Munich and Germany today.

FAQ

Where do we meet? Where does it end?

We meet near the Frauenkirche. The ending point may vary, but we tend to finish near the NS Documentation Center. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map, and 24-hour phone number for any last-minute issues. If you have chosen the Dachau extension option, we will end the tour at Munich's main train station.

If I would like to visit the Dachau Memorial Site, can I just check the optional box?

Yes. We will then adjust your walk duration to be 9 hours and we will adjust the start time to 9 am. You will be back in Munich around 6 pm.

What if it’s raining?

Tours operate rain or shine. The majority of this walk is outside, so please be prepared with either an umbrella or a hat/sunscreen.

Can children join this tour?

We don’t encourage children to join this tour, given the subject nature.

Is this tour walking intensive, and/or wheelchair accessible?

We do cover quite a bit ground on this tour and therefore we recommend contacting us with any mobility questions; we will be happy to advise if this tour will be appropriate for you or propose modifications where necessary.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Brendan

Brendan manages the English language branch of one of Munich’s largest tour operators, and also has worked for many years as a guide for the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. He is experienced in introducing visitors to the full variety of Munich’s culture, lifestyle and history, but likes to specialise in two areas in particular: the art on display in our wonderful galleries; and the darker aspects of 20th century history in the city that was the birthplace of Nazism. His academic background is in literature and history – with a first class degree from Liverpool University, and a past life as a tutor in the Department of Literature at Edinburgh University.

Tom

Tom studied at Medieval history at Bangor university and then an M.A in Celtic Archaeology. Since then he has worked as an Archaeologist in various digs Wales, England, Germany Austria. As well as this for he also worked as an historic conservator and tour guide for the National Trust and with English Heritage. He moved to Munich six years ago and has since focused on being a tour guide and currently takes people from around the world around his new home covering sites and topics from local beer traditions to the former Dachau Concentration Camp.

Achim

Achim is a writer and tour guide originally from Ochsenfurt, a tiny village around a huge sugar factory between the vineyards of Lower Franconia. He obtained his MA from the University of Erlangen after submitting his thesis focusing on the Nuremberg Party Rallies of the NSDAP. He has published travel books on Montenegro and Munich, both currently still in print and well selling in the 4th, respectively 5th edition. He is fully licensed by the Memorial site in Dachau as a docent and has eight years experience of tour guiding in and around Munich with an emphasis on NS related topics, but also claims to prepare the best beer garden food in town.

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17 Reviews – (4.91)

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Nicola was one the most interesting, intelligent and personable guides I’ve ever met. I was highly impressed by her knowledge and insights.

Linda

Jan. 21, 2020

He was informative and engaging, I loved the tour

Diane

Dec. 20, 2019

Brendan was wonderful!

Jan

Dec. 3, 2019