A message from the
Welcome to the Ministry of History! I’m Artie, the Minister in charge, and my mission is simple: to make up for that terrible history teacher you had in school. I believe that we can’t truly know where we’re headed without understanding where we’ve come from, and that’s exactly what this Ministry is here to do. My journey with history began as a tour guide in Berlin, but I wanted to expand beyond just Germany and Europe because every corner of the world has a fascinating story to tell.
Planning a visit to Berlin?
Why not join a Ministry tour? Our mission is to help you uncover and understand the fascinating, tumultuous story of this remarkable city – what we like to call the “Capital of the Twentieth Century.
The Highlights Tour
Looking for all the highlights of Berlin but don’t have much time? This tour is perfect for you! In just two and a half hours, we’ll cover the major landmarks...2 hours
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€150
The Full City Tour
Curious to uncover everything about this remarkable city? On The Full City Tour, you’ll experience all of Berlin’s iconic landmarks while diving deep into its rich history. From its founding...6 hours
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€450
The Nazi Germany Tour
Want to explore the most turbulent chapter in German—and perhaps world—history? Berlin, once a symbol of progress and freedom, became the capital of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. Under...3 hours
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€225
Latest episode of the podcast
Subscribe to the Ministry of History Podcast (formerly “The History Buff”) for captivating
history content! Enjoy bite-sized solo episodes packed with intriguing insights, or dive into
deeper, co-hosted discussions on fascinating historical topics.
Minister's Questions 2: Life in Berlin and More...
In this episode of Minister’s Questions, two ministers and passionate Berlin tour guides tour guides - Artie and Tina - explore Berlin’s share what inspired them to highlight places named after women in the city in the HerStory Buff series, offer expert recommendations for must-see spots, and discuss the impact of living in Berlin.Beyond travel tips, we delve into Germany’s snap general election, debunk persistent myths about the city, and imagine Berlin as a person—what would they be like? Plus, our guests reveal the one day in Berlin’s past they’d love to experience firsthand. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a traveler, or simply curious about Germany’s capital, this episode is full of fascinating insights and engaging conversation.This episode is also available to watch as a video on YouTube.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Podcast Update: A Pause, Not a Goodbye
A Quick Message from the Minister of History 🎙️📜Hey history buffs! Artie here with a quick update on the podcast. While the Ministry of History Podcast isn’t going anywhere, I’m shifting focus to growing our social media presence for now. That means fewer episodes for a bit—but don’t worry, I’ll still be dropping sporadic releases, including the final Tudor episodes and more on East Germany.Want to stay connected? Follow the Ministry on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube (links in the description)! Stay tuned, stay curious, and keep the history love alive! 🚀📖 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Brazilian Carnival
In this episode, I’m joined by Daniel, an internationalist and passionate carnivalist, to dive deeper into the history and evolution of Carnival. We break down some common stereotypes and I share my personal experiences, recorded just before my second trip to Rio for Carnival!We take a closer look at how this incredible festival transformed from its chaotic, street-fighting origins—shaped by a mix of African, Indigenous, and European influences—into the massive global celebration we know today.A heads-up: the audio quality isn’t perfect as Daniel and I were using some basic equipment, but I promise it’s still a fun and engaging conversation. This episode isn’t strictly historical, but if you’re passionate about Carnival, you’ll love the insights and stories we share!You can get in touch with Daniel on his email at danielporcelbastos@gmail.comThis episode is also available to watch as a video on YouTube.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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East Germany (Part 3): The 1953 June Uprising
In this third episode of the East Germany series, Artie is joined by Deputy Minister and fellow Berlin tour guide Tina to discuss East Germany’s first major crisis.By the early 1950s, West Germany was booming thanks to American subsidies, while the GDR remained in ruins, burdened by Soviet reparation payments. Living standards had declined, fuelling unrest. When the government ordered a 10% productivity increase without extra pay, anger boiled over. On 16 June 1953, workers in East Berlin went on strike. By the next day, protests had spread nationwide, turning into a full-scale uprising. Crowds stormed government buildings, tore down propaganda, and overpowered security forces. The SED was on the brink of collapse—until Soviet tanks rolled in.The uprising was brutally crushed, killing 55 people, with more subsequently executed after show trials. In response, the GDR expanded Stasi surveillance, cementing its status as one of history’s most oppressive police states.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Tudors (Part 9): Mary I - "Bloody Mary"
Welcome back to the Ministry’s Tudor series! In this episode, Anna and Artie uncover the fascinating—and often tragic—story of Mary I, England’s first crowned queen. Ruling from 1553 to 1558, her short reign is often overshadowed by that of her formidable sister, Elizabeth I. But was Mary truly the ruthless "Bloody Mary" history remembers her as?We dive into her early life, the dramatic power struggles that shaped her rise to the throne, and the challenges she faced as queen. Was her reputation deserved, or has history been unfair to her? And did she leave behind any lasting achievements? Find out in this episode!You can also watch this episode as video on YouTube.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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East Germany (Part 2): Politics, Power, and the SED
In this second episode of the Ministry of History's East Germany series, we’re diving into the political system, ideology, and leaders of the GDR. East Germany officially called itself a democracy—its full name was the German Democratic Republic (GDR)—and it even held elections. But were they truly democratic? The ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED) tightly controlled the state, ensuring that real political power remained in the hands of a select few. Who were those select few? Just how was the GDR's political system structured? What was contained in its constitution? What was its actual ideology - communist, socialist or something else? Listen to the episode to find out!The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Violent regicide in Serbia!
⚔️ In the early hours of 11 June 1903, a group of Serbian Army officers overthrew and assassinated King Alexander I and Queen Draga in their bedroom.
👑 It ended the Obrenović dynasty and brought the Karađorđević dynasty to power.
🥊 The coup shifted Serbia toward a more nationalist and anti-Austrian political direction, setting up the tension which would help eventually lead to war in 1914.
#maycoup #serbia #serbianhistory #regicide #karađorđević
Why are Finnish and Estonian so unique?
#finnish #estonian #uraliclanguages #historyoflanguage #languageroots
@tinastoursberlin and I had a little Ausflug to the @berlinischegalerie to see the exhibit on female architects in the GDR - “Genossin Architekt, Kollegin Architekt – Frauen bauen Berlin, die Hauptstadt der DDR.” (“Comrade Architect, Colleague Architect – Women who built Berlin, Capital of the GDR”).
👩🏭 From its founding in 1949, East Germany actively encouraged women to enter the workforce.
👩💼 Women were trained in professional and technical fields, leading to far greater female participation in the labour market than in the West.
🏡 In West Germany, which remained much more socially conservative, women were encouraged - well into the 1980s - to stay at home and focus on raising a family.
#ddr #eastgermany #femalearchitects #berlinischegalerie #womenshistory
Tempelhofer Feld... a former airport which is now Berlin`s biggest park.
#berlin #tempelhoferfeld #berlinhistory
FILM RECOMMENDATION: Black Book (2006)
🎬 Directed by Paul Verhoeven, Black Book is a gripping World War II spy thriller set in Nazi-occupied Netherlands.
🕵️♀️ Rachel Stein, a Jewish singer, goes undercover as a spy within the Gestapo, risking everything to survive and aid the resistance.
❓ Moral ambiguity runs through the film, embodied by its two male leads - Akkermans, a Dutch resistance fighter, and Müntze, a high-ranking SS officer.
💔 Identity, trust, and survival dominate as Rachel - under her alias Ellis de Vries - navigates love, loss, and betrayal in a world where no one is innocent.
#blackbook #zwartboek #paulverhoeven #dutchcinema #worldwar2 #resistance #netherlands
Did you know the nation-state of Italy was only born in 1861?
🇮🇹 Italian states united under one kingdom (1861) after being a jigsaw of separate, independent states for centuries.
⚔️ Key figures like Garibaldi, Cavour, and Victor Emmanuel II led wars and diplomacy to achieve unification.
🏛️ Rome became the capital in 1871, symbolising the completion of Il Risorgimento (“The Resurgence”).
#italianhistory #italianunification #risorgimento #garibaldi
The Daily Telegraph Affair of 1908: yet another diplomatic blunder by Wilhelm II
🗞️ The German Kaiser`s remarks to a friend were given to a the Daily Telegraph to publish, hoping to improve Anglo-German relations, but his blunt remarks offended both Britain and Germany.
🇬🇧 He claimed to be friendly toward Britain but suggested the British were “mad” - worsening tensions instead of easing them.
⚡ The scandal humiliated Germany internationally and led to domestic outrage, weakening the Kaiser’s prestige and strengthening calls to limit his influence in foreign affairs.
#wilhelmii #kaiserwilhelm #dailytelegraphaffair #dailytelegraph #britain #germany
Today is “Destiny Day” (“Schicksaltag”) in Germany… because a lot of very pivotal moments in German history happened on this day!
#9november #9november1989 #germany #germanhistory #berlin
Before I get back into regularly uploading content I thought it would be nice for you all you lovely followers to get to know a bit more about me!
Here are 10 facts about Artie, the Minister of History 💙
#10factsaboutme #gettoknowme #historian
Ever wondered what the difference is between Prussia and Germany?
🇩🇪 Germany: the modern nation-state formed in 1871, uniting many German-speaking regions under one country.
👑 Prussia: a powerful kingdom that existed before German unification and was the driving force behind creating Germany.
🧩 Prussia was one part (and the leader) of Germany when it became a whole.
#germany #prussia #germanhistory #unification #germanempire #bismarck #ww1 #ww2
I just read Rudolf Höss` autobiography...
#rudolfhoess #nazigermany #germanhistory #ww2 #auschwitz #primolevi #auschwitzcommandant #zoneofinterest
The contribution of the Commonwealth in the Second World War was absolutely vital, and Britain would have been lost without it. It’s therefore a nice idea to always say “Britain AND Commonwealth” when talking about Britain’s contribution to the war.
#wwii #ww2 #britain #commonwealth #australia #newzealand #canada #india #southafrica
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