German Memorials
From the National Socialists through to the fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War, Germany has been an epicentre of political activity in the 20th Century. Accompanying this activity is the abuse of human rights that is inextricably linked to these two infamous periods in history.
German Memorials & Museums to the Victims of National Socialism
The National Socialist Party encapsulated all that is bad in humanity. A variety of groups were persecuted during their reign of terror, firstly in Germany and then in neighbouring countries. The memorials pay respect to the victims of this repressive regime and highlights Germany’s ownership of their history. Some of the sites included below are by no means “easy” but if history is your bag, they are definitely worth a visit.
Sachsenhausen, Oranienberg
Sachsenhausen was created by the National Socialists in 1936, after the closure of the original camp in Oranienberg. Set up as a “model camp”, it was used mainly for political prisoners as well as housing a forgery unit created to print British bank notes. After the liberation of the camp in 1945, the Soviets continued to use the site until the early 1950’s to house dissidents. The camp is roughly 30 mins by train from Berlin Hbf (Berlin train C Zone) and free to enter.
NS-Documentation Center, Cologne
NS-Documentation Center was the former home of the Gestapo in Cologne between 1935 to 1945. The building presents a grim reminder of the suffered by those who were held in the facility. The memorial is regarded as one of the best preserved Nazi prisons with over 1,800 inscriptions & drawings in the remaining 10 cells. The centre also contains artefacts from the period making it the largest regional memorial site for the victims of the Nazi regime.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin
Controversial, misunderstood, thought provoking are all ways to describe this memorial in the heart of Berlin. It may not fall into the category of your “traditional” memorial but when you are standing in the centre, it definitely creates a feeling of isolation. Originally criticised as it only commemorated the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, subsequent memorials in Berlin have blunted the critics in this area. The visitors centre that is found within the memorial would have to be one of the quietest spaces I experienced in Germany. If you intend to visit the memorial, make sure you spend a little time in the centre. It’s definitely worth it.
Video - Inside the Memorial to the Dead Jews of Europe - Berlin
Berlin Memorials - Sinti & Roma, Homosexuals & T4
Berlin contains a range of memorials to the destructive nature of National Socialism. They range from memorials to the Sinti and Roma victims, homosexuals & the insidious T4 project. All are very different but all are very poignant in their own way. Directions and relevant information for each memorial are provided in the links.
Stolpersteine - "Stumbling Stones"
The Stolpersteine (or “stumbling stones” as it literally translates to) is a very understated but extremely effective memorial found not only in Berlin but in over 1,000 cities. The simple brass plates inscribed with the name and life dates of victims of Nazi extermination or persecution are located outside the residences from which they were taken. Certain streets and neighbourhoods are filled with these constant reminders of the terror associated with the reign of Hitler and the Nazi Party. Below are images of stolpersteine’s from Berlin, Frankfurt & Aachen.
Orte des Erinnerns (Places of Remembrance) - Bayerischer Platz, Berlin
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Berlin Wall Memorials
Arguably one the most iconic image’s of the Cold War was the Berlin Wall. Built in 1961 and eventually pulled down in 1989, remnants of its existence is still littered throughout Berlin in a variety of sites. The East Side Gallery and Berlin Wall Memorial present the wall in very different ways and are both definitely worth a visit.
East Side Gallery, Berlin
If you are looking for a Berlin Wall experience with a slight difference, the East Side Gallery is a great place to visit. The Wall will always be related to the Cold War and tensions that existed between the East & West. While a straight comparison cannot be made to the Holocaust, similarities exist in that victims fell foul of political ideology which restricted the rights of individuals. The iconic images of the Berlin Wall coming down signalled the beginning of the end of the “Iron Curtain”.
Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall Memorial)
The Berlin Wall Memorial is one of those interesting sites that has been integrated into back into everyday Berlin life. The 1.4 km stretch of land defines the former border wall which separated East & West Berlin from 1961 through to 1989. The Window of Remembrance (see video clip) and surviving 200 foot section of the wall are sobering reminders of the division that existed during the Cold war period.
Video - The Window of Remembrance (Berlin Wall Memorial)
“They all admonish us to never forget. No, we will never forget. We’ll not forget for the sake of the victims, for our own sake, and for the sake of future generations.”
Angela Merkel (on visiting Dachau May 3, 2015)