WWII & Beyond Memorials
WWII Memorials
WWII memorials come in all shapes and sizes but they all have one thing in common, they all hail the victor. From parks, monuments & exhibits that hail allied achievements, their existence provide the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of those who fought for an ideal (be it political or altruistic).
Hiroshima Peace Park
The Peace Memorial Park was established to commemorate the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. One of the most iconic symbols of the park is the A-Bomb Dome, the preserved ruins of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the dome serves as a sombre reminder of the destructive power of nuclear weapons. The Children’s Peace Monument dedicated to Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died from leukemia, stands as a symbol of the innocent children who perished.
Hiroshima Peace Museum
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, stands as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of nuclear weapons. Its primary objective is to commemorate the victims of the atomic bombing, educate visitors about the horrors of nuclear warfare, and advocate for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. In 2019, my wife (who had left the museum early) had the opportunity to speak to a man who was born in Hiroshima, a year after the bomb had hit. His stories of growing up in a city attempting to recover from an atomic bomb blast, reinforced to both of us the devastating nature of war. A general warning, the images I have chosen to display are quite confronting.
Soviet Monument, Treptower Park - Berlin
The site opened in 1949 to commemorate 7,000 of the 80,000 Russians killed in the Battle of Berlin and served as the central war memorial of East Germany during the DDR’s existence. Catch the S-Bahn to Treptower Park station, take your time walking through the park (situated along the Spree) before arriving at the memorial.
Soviet War Memorial, Vienna
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Soviet War Memorial, Vienna
Post War Memorials
Below you will discover a range of Post WWII memorials which detail the human experience through the Cold War era and beyond. They feature a largely Euro-centric focus, which is to be expected from this period of history.
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.
