Zwangsarbeit. Die Zeitzeugen-App der Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt

Five tours take you through forced labour in Berlin. Witnesses tell of factories and camps. Photos and documents show both victims and perpetrators.

Berlin was a centre for forced labour during National Socialism: Between 1938 and 1945, half a million forced labourers – men, women and children – had to work in factories, services and households in Berlin, more than in any other city in Europe. Kept separate from German society, they lived in over 3000 camps, right in front of the houses of the civilians. In interviews and letters they talk not only of work, hunger, violence and bombs, but also of love and friendship. Now, the memories of these unvoluntary Berliners are brought to life through interview excerpt, photos, documents and maps.
Follow their path with a multimedia guide either on foot, by bicycle or with the S-Bahn! Download the tours in WLAN and experience the everyday life of forced labourers throughout Berlin. You will not only discover places that are not listed in guidebooks, but also find traces of long forgotten stories at well-known spots.

Five tours are available for download:

A Pole in Berlin
Following the steps of Józef Przedpełski. The 23 year old worked for the Reichsbahn and was housed in a school. From S-Bhf. Bornholmer Straße to S-Bhf. Gesundbrunnen

Victims and Perpetrators
Through the centre of the Third Reich: the ministries and offices that organised the work assignments were in the areas around Wilhelmstraße. From Brandenburger Tor to Lindenstraße

In the Factory
To the factories of the famous Berlin industrial group AEG. Witnesses from Poland talk about forced labour and everyday life in Berlin. Around Humboldthain

Forced Labour was Everywhere
The 500,000 forced labourers were everywhere: in the neighborhood, at the airport and at the cemetery. From Potsdamer Platz to Hermannstraße

Through the City of Camps
Through the city with the S-Bahn: former forced labourers tell of their life among the Berliners. From Bahnhof Zoo to Schöneweide