Berlin Communist & Socialist Tour

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Basic Information
Total time
2 hours 45 minutes
Language
English
Price
„Pay what you wish” tours do not have a fixed price. It is up to you to evaluate your guide’s work and reward it. Some people give 10€, others 50€ depending on their satisfaction and abilities.
Meeting point
In front of the Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus) - look for the yellow umbrella!Go to map
Ending point
Oberbaumbrücke/Warschauer Strasse
This tour is provided by

About

What comes to your mind when you’re in Berlin and someone says “communism”? The Wall? GDR? Hotspot of the Cold War? 


All of these things are an important portion of our tour, but they’re only a part of the topic called “communism & socialism”. So our goal is more ambitious than just showing you the Berlin Wall and mentioning a couple of chapters of the Cold War history. We want to give you a holistic understanding of one of the most revolutionary and controversial ideological movements in world history. 


How? By way of having a chronological journey from the 19th to 21st century and covering all the main chapters of the history of German communism. You will learn about the fathers of communist ideas – K. Marx & F. Engels and what they really taught about. You’ll hear the story of R. Luxembourg & K. Liebknecht and understand their role in a political struggle that tore German society apart 100 years ago and thus also helped A. Hitler rise to power. You’ll see and compare the Soviet model of socialism exported to Germany after WWII: you’ll experience it architecturally, grasp it geopolitically and perceive it through people’s life stories. Finally, we’ll talk about leftwing movements today. 


After this 3 hours Walkative journey, you’ll form a historical Gestalt of communist & socialist ideas! Both in Germany and Europe (and even beyond). Both before and after WWII. Long before and long after.


You will discover:


• Marx-Engels Forum – a memorial dedicated to the fathers of communist ideas


• Liebknecht balcony – a place of the proclamation of the Free Socialist Republic of Germany 


• Volksbühne at the Rosa Luxemburg Platz – formerly the most representative theatre in Berlin


• Karl Marx Allee – the most impressive Stalinist architecture in Germany


• Frankfurter Tor – an example of further development of socialist ideas in East Germany


• The Berlin Wall (East Side Gallery) – the longest remaining part of the notorious border between East and West


Meeting Point
In front of the Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus) - look for the yellow umbrella!

BOOKING RULES
Our pay as you wish tours are designed for individual travellers and small groups. We don’t accept parties of more than 7 people on them. If you travel in a party of 8 or more (school groups, bigger groups of friends etc.), please choose a paid option, if it's available, or book a Private Tour. For more information on the latter, please contact us.



Excellent tour!

Rated 5.0 out of 5
6 months ago

If you are at all curious about Berlin in the 20th century, this is your tour. Will is like a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about this era, but what’s equally important is that he also asks the right questions and helps you understand just how complicated things were. Definitely a tour that will make you think!

Kelly

Nailed it!

Rated 5.0 out of 5
6 months ago

Will is an exceptional tour guide. Knowledgeable to the point of nerdy but doesn’t at all intimidate, totally understands how hard it is to absorb Berlin’s complex history, during and after the Nazi regime. I highly recommend you take this tour.

Jacqui

Deep dive into history

Rated 5.0 out of 5
6 months ago

Great tour with Will, we really enjoyed our time and learned a lot, he’s very knowledgeable and his fun attitude created a very relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Will felt passionate both about the city and about his job as a guide, he brought a lot of dedication into those over 3 hours we spent all together. A separate and special thanks for always keeping us in the shade on a torrid day 😀

Vladlena

Great tour

Rated 5.0 out of 5
6 months ago

The tour was really great, it had a lot if history but it was explained in easy to understand way. Recommending everyone to check it out

Matija Dizdar

Great tour and guide

Rated 5.0 out of 5
6 months ago

This tour explains so much about Berlin and Will does it all excellently.

Jan


This tour is also available as
a Private Tour.

Private tour
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