Germany

Explore Germany stories

Active Edge: The Army, Germany and the Cold War

In 1945, British troops occupied Germany alongside their wartime Soviet allies. But growing East-West tensions soon evolved into the Cold War. For the next four decades, soldiers in Germany prepared to face an attack by the Warsaw Pact.

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Civilians gathered around British tanks, Hamburg, May 1945

The Army and the occupation of Germany

Following their victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, the Allies were faced with administering a country in ruins. British soldiers had a leading role in this, helping to hunt war criminals, rebuild industry and help displaced persons.

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Battle of Dettingen

Fought in southern Germany on 27 June 1743, Dettingen saw British forces stand in alliance with those of Hanover and Austria against the French. It was the last time a reigning British monarch personally led his troops in battle.

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Passing German prisoners of war when moving up to the Aller, Germany, April 1945

Countdown to victory

In the spring of 1945, Allied armies began their final advance into the heart of Nazi Germany. After weeks of intense fighting, they secured victory, ending the most destructive war in Europe's history.

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The liberation of Belsen

As the British Army advanced into the heart of Nazi Germany in the spring of 1945, its soldiers were confronted with the full horrors of the Holocaust at the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

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A Conqueror tank of 5th Royal Tank Regiment in Germany, c1960

Nato and the British Army

Nato has been the cornerstone of British defence planning for 70 years. Originally formed in the 1940s as a bulwark against communism, more recently it has been involved in peacekeeping roles and the ‘war on terror’.

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Battle of Blenheim

The Battle of Blenheim in 1704 saw a decisive defeat for a Franco-Bavarian force by the allied English, Dutch and Austrian armies commanded by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy.

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Units of the Dutch Brigade moving up to the attack, 1944

Victory in Europe

During 1944-45, the Allies endured months of fighting against a determined enemy. This bloody struggle eventually ended in the final defeat of Nazi Germany.

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Explore Germany events

Foe to Friend: The British Army in Germany since 1945

Exhibition

12 September 2020 - 31 December 2021

FREE

Foe to Friend

More than a million British soldiers have lived and served in Germany over the past 75 years. Immerse yourself in their stories and follow their evolution from conquerors and occupiers to allies and friends.

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Workshop

4 - 6 August 2021, 11.00am

FREE

Ready, Steady, Radio

Discover the story of the British Forces Network and test your skills as a Foley artist as you create your own sound effects in this interactive family workshop.

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Fragment of the Berlin Wall on display in the Foe to Friend exhibition

Talk

13 August 2021, 12.00pm

FREE

The Berlin Wall

Join Professor Patrick Major as he marks the 60th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall by exploring the crisis that followed.

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Workshop

25 - 27 August 2021

FREE

Berlin Beat

Explore the Berlin Military Tattoo and construct your own instrument inspired by the drums in our collection.

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Talk

3 September 2021, 12.00pm

FREE

Athenstedt: A Cold War Cold Case - The Stasi Versus Brixmis

Join former Brixmis officer Major General Peter Williams as he discusses East German intelligence operations against the Allied military liaison missions during the Cold War.

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Germany

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