This page provides an overview of the tours and lectures arranged by the Berlin Historical Association in 2017.
10 December 2017 - Day Trip to Naumburg
Once a significant trading centre on the Via Regia in the Middle Ages, Naumburg in Saxony-Anhalt is just over 35 miles southwest of Leipzig. It is best known for its stunning St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, built between the 13th and 15th centuries. During the Advent season, the town is transformed by its charming Christmas market, located directly on the Market Square (Marktplatz). Our excursion to Naumburg includes a guided city tour and plenty of free time to explore the city and its Christmas Market.
19 November 2017 - Deutsche Oper
The Deutsche Oper Berlin (German Opera House Berlin) was founded in 1912 in what was then still the independent town of Charlottenburg. The original building was destroyed in WWII, and Fritz Bornemann’s reconstruction opened on 24 September 1961 to much acclaim, with its excellent sightlines for all members of the audience and its exceptional acoustics. This private tour of the Deutsche Oper will take us from the foyers to the auditorium, onto the stage, behind the scenes, to the rehearsal rooms and scenery stores.
20 October 2017 - German Federal Council (Bundesrat)
The Bundesrat is Germany’s Upper House of Parliament and is one of the five constitutional bodies in Germany. The German Bundesrat was first founded in 1867, together with the North German Confederation. In 1871 it was continued under the same name and with the same functions by the German Empire. The political makeup of the Bundesrat today is affected by changes in power in the states of Germany, and thus by elections in each state.
14 September 2017 - Berlin Supreme Court (Kammergericht)
The Berlin Supreme Court (Kammergericht) was built between 1909 and 1913. From August 1944 until January 1945 the building was used for the show trial of the participants in the attack on Hitler in July 1945. After WWII the building was requisitioned for use by the Allied Control Council, which met there until the Soviets walked out of the Council in March 1948. The Four Power Conference between the USA, UK, France and the Soviet Union was held here from March 1970 until the signing of the Four Power Agreement on 3 September 1971.
6 September 2017 - Special Exhibition at the Allied Museum.
This special exhibition at the Allied Museum, entitled "100 Objects. Berlin during The Cold War", presents 100 artefacts (rather than copies) that actually stem from the Cold War and have an historical story to tell, either from the West or from the East. Together, the seemingly commonplace, everyday items create a multi-faceted picture of the era.
2 September 2017 - Olympic Village 1936.
Such was the demand for the tour on 8 July, that a second tour was arranged for those on the reserve list.
8 July 2017 - Olympic Village 1936
During the 11th Summer Olympic Games in 1936 this village was both the home and the training ground for 4,000 athletes from more than 50 nations. After the war it was used by the Soviet forces before being abandoned in 1994. Between 2009-2013 a programme of restoration and preservation was carried out by the Deutsche Kredit Bank (DKB) Foundation.
10 June 2017 - Liebermann Villa
In 1909, Max Liebermann had a summer residence built on Lake Wannsee, which he proudly called his “lakeside palace”. It was here, away from the commotion of city life, that he found much-needed tranquillity and the principal subject matter for his later work. This guided tour of the Villa, gardens and permanent exhibition will last about 1 hour.
13 May 2017 - Tour of the Bavarian Quarter
The Bavarian Quarter (Bayerische Viertel) in Schöneberg was built between 1898 and 1908, and its streets were all named after Bavarian towns. The emphasis of this walking tour of the Bayerische Viertel will be on the street sign monument ‘Orte des Erinnerns’, or “Places of Remembrance”, a memorial to the Jews of Berlin-Schöneberg.
6 May 2017 - German Colonialism
Our tour will consist of a 90-minute walk, with a brief introduction to German colonialism, along the Mohrenstrasse. The walking tour will end at the German History Museum where we will have a 60-minute tour of the special exhibit German Colonialism: Fragments Past and Present.
15 April 2017 - Exhibition in the Ephraim Palace
For centuries, the Berlin Palace dominated the city. Following severe damage during the Second World War, GDR authorities decided to demolish it. It is now being rebuilt with a contemporary function, as the Humboldt Forum. This special exhibition at the Ephraim-Palais is dedicated to the Berlin Palace and its significance for the city and its residents.
18 March 2017 Ottobock Science Centre
17 February 2017 - Stasi Archives
The archives of the former "Stasi" comprise some 43 km of files, records, photographs and tape recordings that were amassed by the Ministry of State Security (MfS) in the GDR between 1950 and 1990. One of the main tasks of the archivists has been to restore and reconstruct as many records as possible in order to identify both the extent of Stasi operations and those who were involved.
14 January 2017 - Federal Chancellery
The Bundeskanzleramt houses the personal offices of the Chancellor and the Chancellery staff. During this bespoke tour, in English, we will be privileged to see many of the offices and other facilities used by the Chancellor and her staff.