Description

Step back to Berlin during WW2, and hear a story about the power of the human spirit to triumph over darkness.

Starting Location

33 Greifswalder Straße

Duration

2 hours

Map Image

Description

It's hard to imagine now that this neighborhood - Prenzlauer Berg - along with the rest of the beautiful, cosmopolitan city of Berlin, was the belly of the Nazi beast during World War II. But even as Hitler emptied this city of its Jews and dissidents there was a small, secret community hiding in plain sight. These rebels were called "the divers" because they were submerged in the Berlin Underground. And Vivien Orbach-Smith knew one of them very well. He was her father.

On this Detour, Vivien will take you into the world of her father Lothar Orbach as he came of age in Nazi Berlin. She'll share his incredible story of survival on the very streets where it happened. You'll follow his route of escape from the grips of the secret Nazi police, trace his hideouts on the neighborhood's rooftops, and visit one of the oldest and most fascinating jewish cemeteries in Berlin. Despite it arguably being the worst time and the worst place in modern history, you will discover Lothar's remarkable story of courage and resistance.

Tips & Hours

• This Detour can be taken anytime, any day. But is best when started Monday to Thursday between 9.30 am and 2.30 pm or on Fridays between 9.30 am and 11.30am to be able to access the Jewish cemetery during open hours.
• Bring 3 Euros in change. You will need it to buy a tram ticket.
• Think of this walk as an easy urban hike. Wear comfortable shoes and layers. Be careful on the cemetery as the trees are very old and some branches might fall.

Credits

Narrator: Vivien Orbach-Smith

Featured Voices: Richard Orbach Larry Orbach

Producer: Christopher Zitterbart

Associate Producers: Shlomit Lasky, Saskia Veigel, Luisa Beck

Head of Content: Heather Schuster

Executive Producers: Stacey Book

Executive Producer: watchmen productions Berlin

Sound Design Supervisor: Julian Kwasneski

Music Supervisor: Mikael Sandgren

Audio Engineer: ASK Julian / Brooklyn studio

Image Credits

Cover Photo: Markus Müller

Narrator Portrait: Devin Curry 

Highlights Photos: Christopher Zitterbart 

Navigation Photos: Christopher Zitterbart Archive pictures: 

Personal archive Vivien Orbach-Smith 

Destroyed store int. Bundesarchiv, Bild 119-2671-06 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 

Destroyed store exteriors: Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1970-083-42 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, Bild 146-1972-033-39 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, Bild 146-1970-083-44 / Friedrich, H. / CC-BY-SA 3.0 

Hitler Youth Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-P049456 / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Hitler Youth flags Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-2004-0028 / Marmulla, L. / CC-BY-SA 3.0 

Destroyed Synagogue Bundesarchiv, Bild 147-1118 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 

Audio Footage from Screenocean "The Secret History: The Hidden Jews of Berlin"

Special Thanks

Vivien Orbach Smith 

Ricky Orbach, Juliet Orbach, Jewish Community of Prenzlauer Berg, Felix Istratov, Shlomit Lasky, REWE, Martina Erdmann-Janisch, Kenny and the Buchbox Berlin Team, Ulrike Boettcher, Silent Heroes Memorial Center, Berlin, Peter Ebel, The memoir YOUNG LOTHAR: AN UNDERGROUND FUGITIVE IN NAZI BERLIN (I.B. Tauris, summer 2017).

Starting Locations of All Detours

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