Ministry Of History

Podcast

Ministry of History Podcast

Welcome to the Ministry of History Podcast (formerly The History Buff), where we bring history to life through immersive storytelling and deep dives into fascinating historical topics. Hosted by Artie, the Minister of History and a Berlin-based historian and tour guide, the podcast unravels the complexities, drama, and humanity of history—from pivotal moments to hidden forgotten stories. Whether you're a casual listener or a history buff, join us to explore the events, people, and cultures that shaped our world.There are two formats of episodes:Solo episodes (up to 20 mins)Discussions or interviews (up to one hour)The Ministry of History offers much 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.

Ministry of History Podcast

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The Berlin Wall (Part 3): Escapes, Attempts and Tragedy

The Berlin Wall (Part 3): Escapes, Attempts and Tragedy

In the next episode of the Berlin Wall series, I am joined by another fellow Berlin tour guide - Tina (or as I call her Miss Ernestina). In this third part of the series, I discuss with Tina the various escapes - both successes and failures - and the tragic deaths at the Wall.With the sealing of the border and building of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, this meant that East Germans that wanted to leave East Germany had to find new ways to do so, and in this episode we delve into those gripping and all-too often tragic stories. Hear about Conrad Schumann's leap to freedom, which became an enduring image of the Cold War. Learn about the multiple daring escapes of the Bethke brothers, involving a blow up mattress, a zip-wire and two light aircraft! And listen to the heartbreaking story of Peter Fechter, whose very public shooting and death at the Wall became a symbol of the it's brutality. Join us as we explore these remarkable tales of courage and the human cost of division.You can also watch the video of this episode on YouTube.Check out the home video of the Bethke brothers escape flight over Berlin here.Tina is a fantastic guide who offers many different fascinating tours of Berlin. Check out her website or her Instagram for more information!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 Berlin Wall (Part 1): The Prelude to Division

The Berlin Wall (Part 1): The Prelude to Division

The Ministry of History is very excited to launch a new series about the Berlin Wall! As a Berlin tour guide, it is obviously a big part of my work as the Berlin Wall is a very prominent (and recent!) part of Berlin's history and is very popular with visitors to the city. Over five episodes we will talk about various aspects of its existence including the events leading up to its construction, the actual building of the Wall, escapes and deaths, life in East and West Berlin and also how the Wall fell and it consequences.In this first episode, I will explain to you the events that led to the Berlin Wall's construction, including the beginnings of the Cold War and the Berlin Crisis, in a simple bitesize episode. For the rest of the series, I will be joined by fellow tour guides here in Berlin to help explain the fascinating and pivotal story of this barrier built to separate a people, but which came to symbolise the division of an entire world and the tension between them during the Cold War.This episode is 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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