Meeting Point

Tour meets at the Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz. I will be holding a sign “Battle for Seelow Heights”

Meeting point

Memorial and Museum at the Seelower Höhen

Here your guide will provide a detailed overview of the Berlin-Seelow offensive operation and highlight key exhibitions, including a 3D model of the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front bunker and trench network which will be visited later in the tour. Guests will be able to explore the museum at their own leisure following the introduction.

Crossing the Order at the Reitweiner Sporn

After the museum, it is a short drive to the next town of Reitwein. This small and unassuming town played a vital role in the Soviet advance and was the starting point for the 1st Belorussian Front assault on Seelow and the future advance on Berlin. The Soviet’s amassed a force of 768,000 Infantry (including 78,556 soldiers of the Polish 1st Army), 3,059 tanks, 16,934 artillery and mortars as well as 3,279 combat aircraft.

Libbenichen

Following a small excursion through the trench network, the tour will continue to either Libbenichen or Mallnow, this will depend on weather conditions. It was here that Colonel Scheunemann, commander of the 303rd Infantry Division set up his defence of the heights. Here the tour will take stock of the German defensive positions and highlight the immense difficulties the Russian and Polish troops faced in crossing the aptly named ‘shooting gallery’.

German war Graves cemetery, Lietzen

From there the tour begins the journey back to Berlin following the original route of the Soviet advance. Passing through the town of Lietzen, the tour will briefly stop at the German field cemetery. It is of meaningful importance as this site has been significantly extended since unification, as newly found remains are constantly added to the wartime graves. The town also hosts what is said to be Germany’s oldest barn and a manor house built by the Knights Templar dating back to 1252.

Battle for the Jahnsfelde cross-roads

The final stop at the town of Jahnsfelde underpins the brutality and desperation of the fighting. Showcasing a sports field, the once site of a German field hospital mercilessly attacked by Soviet aircraft targeting the red cross markings and the last stand of the 3rd Battalion of the Artillery Regiment 18. Caught at the crossroads by advancing Soviet armor during the withdrawal, the Battalion hastily set up defensive positions destroying an estimated 100 tanks at the cost of 8 officers, 163 killed, over two-thirds of the battalion wounded, and all guns lost.

Ending point

The tour ends back at the Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz.

Ending Point

The tour ends back at the Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz.