New series out now!
There’s an old saying in German which goes “Du bist verrückt mein Kind, du musst nach Berlin!” (You are crazy my child, you have to go to Berlin!).
Well, in the Spring of 1945 you really must have been crazy to want to go to Berlin…
Today sees the release of the first episode of my new 14-part series on the Europe At War podcast telling the story of the Battle of Berlin!
As Berlin is my adopted home this battle feels a little different than my other series on Bautzen and Halbe. Plus, when researching this new series I discovered a whole host of incredible things about Berlin which I’d never known about – including important locations connected to the battle which are only a few minutes’ walk from my flat!
In the new series I’ll be covering the battle of Berlin day-by-day, with new episodes released every Monday.
And of course, in order to bring the story to life I have included plenty of first-hand accounts from the commanders, politicians, soldiers, and civilians who were caught up in the fighting.
Oh, and I even created a new “Battle of Berlin” map detailing all of the locations in and around Berlin which were involved in the battle (and which are mentioned in the new series). You can find it below.
You can also find a map providing an overview of the German and Soviet forces on the eve of the assault on Berlin, including the various major offensives which are launched as part of ‘Operation Berlin’: Click here
So check out the first episode – available on all good podcast platforms now!
Hope you enjoy it* 🙂
*P.S If you enjoy what I do then please make sure to ‘follow’ the Europe At War podcast via whichever podcast streaming service you use, and if you have a second to leave me a nice rating or review I would be over-the-moon and eternally grateful. Thanks!


A weekly podcast exploring the lesser-known battles and stories of the Second World War, with a particular focus on the Eastern Front.
Now: The Battle of Berlin
If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com or visit https://davidsumnerhistory.com/
You can also support me on Patreon via https://patreon.com/europeatwar
Fighting rages throughout the city as the Berlin garrison struggles to counter the combined forces of two Red Army Fronts.
The Soviets then lay siege to Tempelhof Airport…
Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important locations featured in the series.
If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com
You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com
You can also support me on Patreon via https://patreon.com/europeatwar

Books that were used when researching this podcast:
Anonymous, A Woman In Berlin, Virago, 2011.
Anthony Beevor, Berlin: The Downfall 1945, Viking Penguin, 2002.
Tony Le Tissier, The Battle of Berlin, The History Press Ltd, 2008.
Roger Moorhouse, Berlin At War, Vintage, 2011.
Cornelius Ryan, The Last Battle, Simon & Schuster, 1966.
Volker Ulrich, 8 Days In May, Penguin, 2022.
Remnants of War – Humboldthain Flak Tower
Walking the Ground – Neuseddin Memorial
Remnants of War – Tromsöer Straße
Walking the Ground: VE Day in Berlin
Traces of War: Spang in Berlin-Pankow
Bonus Episode: A Talk with Peter Graham from Berlin Battle Damage
Bonus Episode: A Talk With Matthew Menneke From On The Front Tours
Remnants of War – The “first house taken by the Red Army in Berlin
Traces of War – Spang in Potsdam
Remnants of War – Zhukov’s Bunker and Command Post in Reitwein
Traces of War – Spang in Berlin
Walking the Ground – VE Day Poster Berlin
Stolperstein Sunday – Dr. Carl Blumenthal, Margarete Blumenthal & Werner Blumenthal
Europe At War meets Beyond Barbarossa
Hear me talk about the Halbe Pocket & the end of the war in Germany…