Wannsee Conference
Museum Villa site of the 1942 Nazi Wannsee conference
The lakeside villa in Berlin where senior Nazi officials met in 1942; today the Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz serves as a memorial and educational centre on the Holocaust.
The Wannsee site in Berlin is the lakeside villa where the 1942 meeting commonly called the Wannsee Conference took place on 20 January 1942; it is now a memorial and education centre.
The meeting was convened by SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich on 20 January 1942 to coordinate the implementation of policies later termed the Final Solution. The villa has since been converted into a memorial and educational institution interpreting the events and their victims.
The property sits in the Wannsee quarter in southwest Berlin on the shore of Lake Wannsee, a short distance from the suburban Wannsee railway station and local road network.
- Historic meeting date: 20 January 1942 is the date of the conference where senior Nazi officials coordinated measures that became known as the Final Solution.
- Education and tours: On-site educational programmes and guided tours focus on Holocaust history and the administrative mechanisms of Nazi persecution.
What to See #
- Villa (Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz): A lakeside villa that houses a permanent exhibition and the original room where the 1942 meeting took place, now interpreted for visitors.
How to Get to Wannsee Conference #
From Berlin central station take S-Bahn S7 to Wannsee station; from there it is a short bus ride (lines 114 or 118) or a 20-30 minute walk along the lakeside to Am Großen Wannsee 56-58.
Tips for Visiting Wannsee Conference #
- Book a guided tour in advance if possible - the small museum fills up, and guided tours provide much deeper context than the exhibits alone.
- Allow at least 90 minutes to see the exhibition and watch the documentary film about the January 20, 1942 meeting.
- The memorial is on the shore of the Großer Wannsee - combine a visit with a lakeside walk to see the contrast between the tranquil setting and the grim history.
Best Time to Visit Wannsee Conference #
Spring through autumn offers pleasant conditions for pairing the memorial visit with the surrounding lakeside setting; the museum's interior experience is year-round.
Weather & Climate near Wannsee Conference #
Wannsee Conference's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (547 mm/year).
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm).
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June
June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with 64 mm of rain.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm).
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October
October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm).
