Exclusive for MoS readers: Berlin, Colditz and Damn Busters tour with TV’s James Holland – join our fascinating trip to Germany with acclaimed WW2 historian
Colditz Castle where the infamous prisoner-of-war camp is located
The Second World War was the conflict that defined the 20th Century, and on this exclusive nine-day escorted tour you will explore some of the pivotal places in the Allies’ epic struggle against Nazi Germany. The trip starts in Belgium before moving on to Germany and visits to Berlin, Dresden, the infamous prisoner-of-war camp at Colditz Castle, and the Mohne Dam, the target of Barnes Wallis’s ingenious ‘bouncing bombs’, a raid immortalised in the classic 1955 film The Dam Busters.
You will be joined on this engrossing tour by acclaimed historian and TV presenter James Holland.
James says: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining this trip. It will be fascinating to venture into the heart of what was the Third Reich and to see not only Berlin but other famous landmarks from the Nazi era.
Iconic: Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate
‘I will also tell you about the dams raid, one of the most remarkable air operations of the war. To see the dams for real is to marvel at how those men of 617 Squadron ever managed to pull it off – at night, over unfamiliar terrain and with mists in the valleys below.’
REASONS TO BOOK
OUR SPECIAL GUEST
You will be joined by James Holland (above)
The author of Normandy 44, Battle Of Britain, Dam Busters, and Fortress Malta, James Holland is a bestselling historian, writer and broadcaster. He has written and presented a series of documentaries for the BBC, including Battle Of Britain. Co-founder of the Chalke Valley History Festival, James has his own collection at the Imperial War Museum and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He will give a talk and Q&A and join you on a tour of Colditz Castle.
Exclusive talk and Q&A with James Holland
James will give a talk to readers in Berlin, where he will draw on his superb knowledge of the Second World War. The author of a dozen acclaimed history books, he will give his personal insights on the conflict and reveal some of the experiences of the men and women who fought and died during it.
Tour Colditz Castle with our special guest
Overlooking the River Elbe, forbidding Colditz has become synonymous with wartime heroism and great escapes. On an enthralling guided tour, you will see escape tunnels, a home-made radio, false uniforms and ingeniously crafted equipment – all in the company of special guest James Holland.
Explore Berlin
Berlin is one of the great cities of Europe and you will see at first-hand its gripping and historic highlights, including Checkpoint Charlie, the East-West border crossing that became a poignant symbol of the Cold War, the Reichstag parliament building, the iconic Brandenburg Gate, and what remains of the Berlin Wall.
Discover Dresden, Erfurt and Leipzig
This exclusive tour also takes in the 12th Century city of Dresden, which is famous for its art, music and culture. The city was all but destroyed during the war but it has now been restored to its former glory. You will also visit historic Erfurt and Leipzig, the birthplace of composer Richard Wagner, before an overnight stay in the Kassel area.
See the site of the real Dam Busters
You will travel to the dramatic Mohne Dam in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. This artificial reservoir was the target of the famous bouncing bombs and was breached during the audacious raid by RAF Lancaster heavy bombers.
Free copy of Dam Busters
Guests who book this trip before the end of June** will receive a complimentary copy (one copy per booking) of James’s book Dam Busters: The Race To Smash The Dams 1943.