Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
First proposed in 1989, the memorial was completed in 2005. The memorial stands in the center of Berlin, and is a place of remembrance, commemorating the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Peter Eisenman designed both parts of the memorial- the above ground area, Stelenfeld, and the below ground, Ort der Information, a place documenting the history of the persecution and extermination of the Jews in the Holocaust. The memorial consists of 2,711 concrete slabs that vary in size. The layout represents a grid formation similar to the layout of tombstones with no markings.
Photo of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews © Jasmine Welch
Soviet Memorial
Located near the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag stands a reminder of the Soviet presence in Berlin. After World War II, a memorial was constructed on the orders of the Red Army, designed by Lev E. Kerbel, Vladimir E. Zigal and architect Nikolai W. Sergievski. Flanked with two Soviet T-34 tanks, the first to reach the city with the Soviet army, the memorial was completed on November 11, 1945. Names of fallen soldiers are inscribed on the pillars, with the largest of the pillars holding a bronze sculpture of a Red Army soldier, symbolizing the end of the war and his fallen comrades below. Behind the memorial stand two fountains, representing the tears and grief of the Soviet Union, as well as more than 2,000 soldiers buried without any identification of individual graves.
Photo of the Soviet Memorial © Jasmine Welch
Memorial to the Homosexuals Persecuted Under the National Socialist Regime
Designed by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, the memorial opened to the public on May 27, 2008. The memorial honors the homosexual victims during the National Socialist Regime, all-the-while making a statement against intolerance and hostility with a film of two men kissing that one can watch through a window opening.
Memorial to the Sinti and Roma of Europe Murdered Under the National Socialist Regime
In 1992, the German government decided to erect a national monument to commemorate the persecution of the “gypsies”. Artist Dani Karavan created a fountain with a submergible stone in the middle, on which a fresh flower is placed every day. The memorial was completed and opened in 2012.
Memorial and Information Point for the Victims of National Socialist ‘Euthanasia’ Killings
On the grounds of the former administrative headquarters of the T4 program, the memorial was opened on September 2, 2014. The memorial consists of a 24-meter long wall of clear light blue glass and includes an information exhibition on the history of the euthanization of the physically and mentally disabled citizens, and it’s present day impact.
Bismarck Memorial
This memorial is one of many that encircles the Siegesäule. It was constructed by Reinhold Begas in 1901 to honor Otto von Bismark. Beneath Bismark are four metaphorical statues- an Atlas, signifying German empire might; Siegfried, signifying the army & industry power; Sibyl, signifying history; and Germania.
Bismarck was born to very successful parents in 1815. Here, he gained great intellect that he was able to use throughout his ruling. He was known as a master strategist because of how he pitted countries against one another to gain power and land. 39 independent Germanic states were united under Prussian leadership because of his negotiation. Serving under the Prussian king William I as chief minister, he “called for strong German leadership. He gained world power unifying Germany which allowed him to initiate reforms such as universal male suffrage, the first welfare state, national healthcare, accident insurance, and old age pension just to name a few.
Photo of the Bismarck Memorial © Jasmine Welch
Musikerdenkmal, or Musician’s Memorial
During the 19th century, Frederick William II commissioned Rudolf Siemering in celebrating the legendary composers of the time, including Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart. The statue stood 10 meters tall but was damaged during WWII. It was disassembled in 1996 and was restored in 2000.
The romantic and deaf German composer Ludwig von Beethoven is considered the “spirit of humanism and incipient nationalism”. He believed that music had the power to convey life without spoken text. A sense of concern “for freedom and dignity if the individual” was something he felt passionate about. The innovation was also present when he combined vocals and instruments for the first time in his Ninth Symphony.
The Austrian composer Joseph Haydn had a very optimistic approach to life which classified him as the perfect representation of the Enlightenment. He excelled at the balance between intellect and emotion. Because of this he was able to take his influences from Bach and develop a classical style of music during the 18th century. He developed many assembles for string quartets and nearly 108 symphonies. There are also 126 trios for barython viola and cello included with 47 piano sonatas just to name a few of his many accomplishments.
Also included on the statue is another Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This child prodigy was bold and difficult. He did not deny himself any opportunities and wrote pieces for all genres of music but he was known for his contributions to Western music.
Photo of Musician’s Memorial © Jasmine Welch