Traces of the Battle of Berlin, Still Visible Today (Part 1)

Walk with me through Berlin’s city center (Mitte) to uncover the hidden scars left by the Battle of Berlin in 1945. On this walk, we will explore some of the city’s most iconic locations — including the Stadtbahn viaduct, Museum Island, and the majestic Berliner Dom — where the damage from intense street fighting and artillery fire is still visible today.

We’ll trace bullet holes, shrapnel marks, and mortar blasts that have remained untouched for nearly 80 years, serving as haunting reminders of the final days of World War II. The tour ends at a quiet cemetery where civilians who died during the battle are buried in a mass grave — a sobering, often-overlooked chapter of Berlin’s wartime history.

If you're fascinated by WWII history, urban exploration, or the hidden layers of Berlin’s past, this video is for you. And, this is Part 1 of a 2-part series.

01:08 - Battle of Berlin Background
02:20 - Friedrichstrasse Station and the Stadtbahnline Viaduct
05:04 - Museum Island
07:29 - Berliner Dom
08:32 - Hackeschermarkt
09:05 - Missing House and Sophienkirche
10:41 - Alter Garnisonfriedhof

Correction at 2:32 — I meant the late 1800s and not the late 18th century. Thanks to those who pointed it out!

[checkpointcharlie]

I visited Berlin in 1988, did a lot of walking around the city. You could see battle damage on just about every single building you passed: damage that had been patched up, damage that hadn't, bullet holes, shrapnel marks, pieces missing, corners missing; you couldn't walk a block without seeing some signs of the war. I remember being surprised, but if you think of it, I was there only 43 years after the war had ended.

[sydhughes]

Went into east Berlin a week after the wall came down, with a German mate of mine.
Everyone was going in the opposite direction!
The old buildings were full of bullets holes and very dirty and just a few new buildings.
But the beer was cheap and the people were happy.!

[Spearhead-lzoq]

I walked around East Berlin in 1984 and once you got off the beaten path there was battle damage just about every where you looked. There was fire damage, black soot staining, around windows as well.

[ヘンリー少尉]

As a Japanese person, when I look at the cityscape, I get the vague impression that it has a beautiful, European-style townscape.
However, when I look more closely at each individual building, I see that they are covered in scars and I get the feeling that many ordinary citizens must have died.
After seeing the film "Der Untergang" (Downfall), I became interested in Germany during World War II, and in particular how the people of Berlin lived.

[MikeJones-qiki]

I served 2 years in West Berlin back in 1978, with the British Army. I was in Smuts Barracks, attached to Spandau Prison, just holding one well-known person.
My service was great in Berlin, a wonderful city.

[RobJohnston-hihp]

Berlin is not the only place one can still see the scars of WW2. I have seen them in Cologne, Nuremberg, Budapest, St Petersburg, just to name afew.

[golic]

Its so important to preserve and document these moments from history . . . .Covering them up, trying to disguise them, and skip-over their history, is detrimental to our 'physical' documentation of historical conflict.
*"A nation that ignores its past, has no future"* . . . .

[s]

Nice work on the video! I live in Berlin myself and have noticed places with traces of the war — even one or two spots where bullets are still lodged in the façades. But this video shows much more than I’ve ever seen before. I'm now planning a trip with my children to show them some of these places and tell them a bit about the history. I’ll also share it with friends who come to visit from abroad.

[Moonrunner]

I lived in Spandau 1979 to 1983. Remarkable remnants of WW2 everywhere including machine gun scars around my toilet window. Worked on Pfauen Inseln in the Havel - hidden cellers. As a tree surgeon came across shrapnel on virtually every oak in the Tiergarten - all at about 30’ high. Fascinating city.

[vanessagardiner]

Such an interesting and well- researched video, thank you for posting and I look forward to watching part 2

[CG-yhjs]

I miss Berlin. It's good to see the street you know and love again in this video.

[vincentdima]

Toutes ces vieilles architectures qui ont marqués l'histoire du pays, mais qui possèdent une réelle beautée, méritent une restauration dans les détails possibles... 😮

[alexclement]

When I visited Berlin in 1979, war scars were everywhere, especially in East Berlin.

[caroltrendall]

I just came back a week ago from a month in Lithuania, Poland and Germany and was surprised by how much damage was still in evidence. Although, I didn't set out to look for it, I found damage on buildings in every city and town I went to. I actually saw some of the holes you talk about here, so it's really interesting to get a little more background. I wish I had known about you when I was there, I would have booked a tour with you for sure!

[ChrisAnstey-rpte]

Before the wall came down in 89 there were lots of traces of war all visible. Amazing experience…

[joseortiz]

Worse is the danger for telephone & electricity workers. Putting telephone & electricity lines & the danger of encountering mines & unexploded bombs. In the 1960s to 1970s workers & common pedestrians killed by bombs & mines exploding by accident.😕😖😳

[andrepython]

Merci pour cet historique riche en précieux détails . Même si j'ai visité 2× Berlin, je me sens toujours connecté à cette ville à cause de son histoire .❤

[IamDudu]

Love Berlin. We go every Christmas 😊😊😊 brilliant channel. ❤

[DefensiveWounds]

I have been learning German for a year, I feel the urge to visit soon. I would love to see this stuff from WW2, plus perhaps metal detecting out in the sticks also going to country towns all over the place!

[CarmineTavernaPhotography]

Thank you for this video and facts. I could not stop watching it. Cheers to you and the work you do as a tour guide, historian and friendly voice for those who cannot tell their story (1945).