Munich

Second World War

In the not-so-distant past, Munich bore the official title, “Hauptstadt der Bewegung” - Capital of the Nazi Movement. This was the city that the Allied Supreme Commander General Eisenhower called “the cradle of the Nazi beast.” Unknown to the casual tourist, many of Munich's buildings carry the mysteries of a dark past, and this 2.5-hour walking tour will uncover those secrets. You will learn how Munich became the birthplace of the Nazi Party and the stage upon which some of the Nazis' most notorious crimes were launched, from Hitler's failed putsch to the horrific Kristallnacht - the largest anti-Semitic pogrom seen in western Europe for centuries, and a dismal milestone on the road to the Holocaust. You will visit the beer-halls that hosted the first small gatherings of the fanatics who one day would lead the Third Reich, and the places where Hitler made his first major speeches. Walk through the streets where Hitler and his Brownshirts fought their way to power, and learn just how they did it. You will go to the official Nazi Headquarters from where Hitler bullied the world, and see buildings that bear the scars of the Second World War. The irony is that while much of central Munich was devastated by Allied bombing, many Nazi buildings survived and still stand today. And standing alongside them are memorials to the city's many victims of Nazism, including those who sacrificed their lives in opposing its hateful ideology.

Your guide will show you the way through the city to the best attractions whilst telling you all about the history of Munich. Throughout your experience you will also be regaled with fun stories about your surrounding sights as well as German culture. As the tour is relatively short, there will not be any stops for food/drink, so please make sure you are ready when you arrive. The usual route travels to Max Joseph Platz, Odeonsplatz/Feldherrnhalle Theatinerkirche, Englischer Garten, Eisbachwelle, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum/Luftwaffe headquarters, Isar river and The Angel of Peace. Main discussion points throughout the tour will evolve around Hitler, the World War II, and Munich's history. Your guide will take wishes to visit other attractions, or alternatively can skip some if a majority of the group would like that. There will be bathroom and water breaks throughout the tour and it will be conducted at an easy pace at which everyone is able to keep up.

This full-day tour from Munich takes you to Hitler’s mountain retreat, located in the mountains above Berchtesgaden. Presented to him in 1939 as a 50th birthday present, the mountain chalet took 13 months to complete, and includes an elevator that was bored through a tunnel in the rocks to reach the entrance. You will depart from Munich and drive along some of the most scenic roads in the German Alps. On arrival, a special bus will take you up to the Eagle´s Nest entrance area, where you will ride the elevator to the mountain peak, and into Eagle´s Nest itself. Look at beautiful views over the Alps, with free time on your own to explore. The lower rooms can be visited with an English-speaking guide, and offer views of the building's past through plate-glass windows. Graffiti left by Allied troops is clearly visible in the surrounding woodwork. A large fireplace in the restaurant shows severe damage along its lower edges, where soldiers have smashed off small shards of marble as souvenirs. Hitler's small study is now used as a store room for the cafeteria. After the tour, you will get more free time to go to the NS-Documentation-Center in Berchtesgaden, before the drive back to Munich.

Trace back the political origins of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi movement on a guided walking tour in Munich. Discover Munich’s dark side as you visit the historical locations during the events of the Third Reich. Begin your guided tour in Marienplatz. From there, take a walk through the most important events of the Third Reich. After making your way to Odeonsplatz, visit the Hofbräuhaus and delve into the history of Hitler's Putsch and the origins of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Continue to the front of the Haus der Kunst, which was the first propaganda building in Nazi Germany. Hear stories from your guide about the influence of the regime on art, the banning of Entartete Kunst, and degenerate art. Discover the German Resistance Movement and learn about protagonists such as Georg Elser and the White Rose. Afterward, reach the Führerbau, the place where the Munich Agreement was signed in 1938 before concluding the tour at Königsplatz.

The Munich Residenz is more than a museum. This is the place where important events in Bavarian history actually took place. Tour the 139 rooms of this architectural marvel with a local artist, granting you a unique perspective on the history and setting. Enter the Munich Residenz with your private group and artist Paul Riedel. Hear about the early years of Munich's royal family, the Wittelsbachs. See where and how they lived. Wander the verdant garden of King Ludwig II while reflecting on the historical events that unraveled here. Your guide will present different paintings and explain their technical background in the Green Gallery, a real highlight of the residence. After touring the interior, learn about the exterior of the palace, which was nearly destroyed during WWII.

In Nuremberg the Third Reich strutted in all of its pomp in the city’s grandiose marching grounds, and years later an international war crimes tribunal held that same Nazi leadership accountable for its actions. There is much more to see here, however. This is an old and beautiful city with a rich and vibrant history. You’ll see the massive medieval fortifications of the striking old town, magnificent gothic churches, colorful marketplaces, and the hilltop castle of the old imperial city. Your expert guide will accompany you on the 90-minute train journey from and to Munich, and provide a comprehensive tour through Nuremburg. The city’s history is fascinating. It was the unofficial capital of the First Reich, or the first Germanic Empire, which dominated central Europe for a thousand years. It was here that the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire was hosted. It was a center of cultural and intellectual vitality at the crossroads of major imperial trade routes. Nuremburg also played a key role in the Reformation, and in the printing and scientific revolutions that shaped the modern world.

Take a walking tour of Munich and examine the infamous streets where some of the darkest stories of human history took root. Hitler referred to Munich as “Die Hauptstadt der Bewegung” (“Capital of the Movement”) and the city and its surrounds were central to the Nazi leader’s rise to power. During the tour, you will examine how a nation of people known for their level-headed thinking allowed what is perhaps the greatest tragedy of the 20th-Century to unfold, and how the world lay sleeping while the Nazis built their war machine and solidified power. You will discover how Munich has emerged from almost complete destruction during the Allied bombings and has been restored to its former glory. You will visit the famous Hofbräuhaus, the world's most famous beer hall, and the birthplace of the Nazi Party. You will also go to the Feldherrnhalle, Brienner Straße - home of the Nazi Party's powerbase – Führerbau – where the infamous Munich Agreement took place - Altes Rathaus, sites of the German resistance movements, memorials to victims of the Third Reich, and much more.

Experience the past at Dachau Concentration Camp, the first established Nazi concentration camp. Follow your private guide through the camp and hear about the tragic events that took place there. Be picked up from the comfort of your hotel in Munich by your expert guide. Hear about the death camp where countless thousands of Jews and innocent people died from malnutrition, disease, overwork, and execution. Learn about how the slave labor at the camp manufactured weapons and other materials for Germany’s war efforts. Hear the somber details of how some Dachau detainees were subjected to brutal medical experiments by the Nazis. Look around this special place devoted to all the prisoners. Miss nothing as your expert guide will provide detailed commentary on all aspects of camp life. Finally, your driver will take you back to your hotel in Munich.

Take a walking tour of Munich and hear about the city's past from a local professional guide. Visit a curated collection of destinations. Follow your guide through parts of the city related to WWII and the history of the Third Reich. Explore the Old Town, home to the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), which was damaged during the Second World War and since reconstructed. Hear 43 bells, admire 32 life-sized figures, and see the Mariensaule column. Hear about Munich's Nazi history, how the Third Reich began, and information about Adolf Hitler. Continue toward Odeonsplatz and Feldherrnhalle, the location where Hitler attempted to storm the Bavarian Defense Ministry in the Beer Hall Putsch. Pass the Hofgarten and learn about the White Rose Resistance Movement. Visit Königsplatz, which served as a square for the Nazi Party’s mass rallies. Extend to the longer option and also visit Munich Documentation Center (NS-Dokumentationszentrum). View documents and photos from the time of the Nazi regime as you listen to live commentary.

Explore the history of WWII in Munich on a self-guided exploration game via an app on your smartphone. Solve puzzles to unlock clues that will lead you to your next location, passing by famous sights along the way. Engage in an interactive game with your loved ones as you learn about history. Start your exploration adventure at Königsplatz and make your way around the city. See and learn about iconic WWII sights as you make your way to the final location of the game: the Old Town Hall. Solve challenges, watch the story unfold on your app, and follow the exact directions on your phone that will guide you to the next location. Best of all, explore at your own pace, pausing the game for a coffee or a meal and resuming it anytime from the location where you paused it.