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).
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.
