b'THE EASTERN FRONT:Scan hereTHE BATTLE FOR BERLIN Scan here BALTIC STATES for the fullFROM THE ODER TO THE REICHSTAG for the full itinerary itineraryOPERATIONS BARBAROSSA AND BAGRATION2430 June 2025 Historical Background6 days After crossing the Oder it took the Red Army just over three months to 513 August 2025 Historical Background Expert Historian: advance 100km and take the city. Fortress Berlin, as Goebbels named it, was to be defended at all costs. The first line of defence at the Seelow Heights, 9 days After World War One the Baltic StatesLithuania, Latvia and EstoniaenjoyedProfessor Matthiassome 90km east of Berlin, took Zhukovs armies four days, with heavy losses, Expert Historian: their first period of independence in history. Nevertheless their positionStrohn to break through. However once cleared it left the Red Army free to encircle Dr Prit Buttar between Germany and the Soviet Union led to occupation by the latter inActivity Level: 2 the city and prepare the coup de grce.June 1940. Soviet rule was changed when the Germans unleashed Operation Activity Level: 2 Barbarossa against the Soviet Union in June 1941. Within weeks all threeBerlin was defended by roughly 45,000 regular troops supplemented by the countries were occupied and brutal Nazi repression started with the murderThe Battle for Berlin was the decisivePolice, the Hitler Youth and Volkssturm (essentially the German version of the Staying in the three Baltic capitals of Vilnius,of the Jewish population. action that brought an end to the war inHome Guard). The fighting began with a ferocious artillery barrage, adding to Riga and Tallinn, as well as graceful Tartu, thisEurope. The tour will focus on the fiercethe already devastating destruction of the city. Although defended stoically, In late June 1944 the Soviets launched Operation Bagration which drovethe continuous waves of Soviet attacks, the Germans limited resources and tour explores the events of World War Two inGerman forces back from the Baltics. As Soviet forces moved towards theand bitter action from the point when thethe brutal house to house fighting meant there was only going to be one the Baltic states. We visit many of the sitessea at Memel in Lithuania German forces to the north were cut off in whatRed Army approached the Oder River to theoutcome and the city finally surrendered on 2nd May 1945, nine days after associated with the savage assault on thesecame to be called the Courland Pocket. The taking of Vilnius (5th-13th July)eventual fall of Berlin. Our first two nightsthe Russians had entered. The War in Europe was as good as over.nations sovereignty by firstly Soviet thenby the Soviets led to over 12,000 German losses but is remarkable for thewill be on the edge of the destroyed city German armies and the brutal occupationalescape of 3,000 troops. In Estonia the natural barrier of Lake Peipus forcedof Kustrin with the remaining nights spent regime of both. This includes the dramaticany invasion north or south and it was around the Sinime region that thein Berlin, a city that has arguably been Battle for Vilnius, the remarkable Courlandfiercest battle took place. By 19th August most of the Baltics had beenthrough more change than any other in Pocket and the ferocious battle ofliberated from the Nazis.Europe over the last 50 years. Whilst both the Sinimed Hill. We visit battle sites,cities were virtually flattened during the fortifications, cemeteries and memorials inSecond World War, despite its division the company of our expert historian, as wellduring the Cold War, Berlin has now as excellent museums which enhance thisbecome a vibrant, bustling and culturally remarkable narrative.rich metropolis. Eight times bigger than Paris, the city is home to endless galleries and museums, and displays a wide range of architecture, which can be explored to enrich your experience of this magnificent city. Importantly for this trip, in particular, the city doesnt hold back in memorialising and documenting its turbulent past, leaving plenty to be discovered.Day 1 Fly London to Vilnius or make your own arrangements to join the tourat the hotel. Gediminas Castle Tower. Check in to hotel2 nights. (D) Day 1 Fly from London to Berlin or make your own arrangements to join theDay 2 Bernardinu Titas bridge, Vingis Park, Naujoji Reva Hill Fort. (B,D) tour at the hotel (five nights). (B)Day 3 Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, Vilnius, Auce (Latvia). Day 2 Crossing the Oder: Kleinitz, Jahnsfelde, Schlosspark,Hotel in Riga2 nights (B,D) Seelow Heights. (B,D)Day 4 Tukums, Riga - free afternoon. (B,D) Day 3 Approach Berlin: Zossen, Tempelhof Airport. (B,D)Day 5 Tartu, Karavere bridge. Hotel in Tartu1 night. (B,D) Day 4 Central Berlin: Humboldthain Flak tower and bunker, Reichstag,Day 6 . Lakes Peipus and Pskov, Kallaste memorial, Sinime, Sinimgede (Blue Hills)Brandenburg Gate, Tiergarten, German Resistance Museum,Museum Otto Carius memorial. Drive to a hotel in the Narva-Joesuu areaPloetzensee Prison. (B,D)2 nights. (B,D)ESSENTIALS Day 7 T-34 tank memorial, Narva German war cemetery, Narva city, Narva castle,ESSENTIALS Day 5 Battle of Berlin: Moltke Bridge, Koenigsplatz, Treptow Park,Udria memorial, Narva-Joesuu. (B,D) German Russian Museum, Bell Tower. (B,D)4-star hotels, meals as indicated,4-star hotels, meals as indicated,Day 6 . Potsdam: Grunewald station, Wannsee Conference Villa, Glienickedrinks with dinner, all entrance fees,Day 8 . Tallinn. Tallinn harbour - Estonian War of Independence, German conquest ofdrinks with dinner, all entrance fees,Bridge, Cecilienhof Palace. Leave tour/flight to London. (B)tour manager and expert historianEstonia, Soviet and German naval evacuations; Estonian National Memorial;tour manager and expert historian throughout, all internal travel, free time in Tallinn. (B,D) throughout, all internal travel,optional travel from UK. Day 9 . Fly Tallinn to London or perhaps extend your stay in Estonia. (B) optional travel from UK.64 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 65'