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Hansaviertel: A Design for Life
The city tour through the Hansaviertel not only focuses on the pioneering architecture of the neighbourhood in the west of Berlin, but also on the exciting history of the district. more
At first glance, the Invalidenfriedhof is a conventional cemetery on the banks of the Spree River. However, a closer look reveals clear that the Invalidenfriedhof is a very special place: where well-tended graves lie today, the deadly border of the Berlin Wall once ran. On this guided tour, participants discover the traces of the cemetery's tumultuous past.
Invalidenfriedhof was founded in the middle of the 18th century for the wounded soldiers of the Prussian army. It is one of the oldest graveyards in Berlin and the final resting place of many high-ranking military officers. However, as you will find out on this tour, the graveyard was not just home to foot soldiers but also to those fighting in the air: the legendary Red Baron and one of Germany’s first female pilots, Marga von Etzdorf, both found their final resting place here.
When the Berlin Wall was built, many of the Invalidenfriedhof's graves were cleared. Even today, parts of the Wall in the cemetery bear witness to its role as a border through the divided city. The tour also includes a visit to a former watchtower which today serves as a memorial to Günter Litfin, the first person to be killed by GDR border guards while attempting to escape.