Berlin’s Monuments To The Nazi Legacy

Berlin is a remarkable city. While most cities display large statues revelling their past, when you go to Berlin there is relatively little grandiose. There are just a few dominating monuments marking the glory days of long-gone colonies. Rather there are grimmer looking structures that evoke a more some mood, and feel out of place for a capital city. Memorial to the murdered Jews of EuropeThe monument dedicated to the Jews is perhaps the most iconic memorial in the German capital. It is just next to the Reichstag, the German parliament building, and uses 19,000-square-metres of prime urban city space. There are a total of 2711 concrete slabs arranged in uniform rows, each of different heights. The rows display the systemisation of the holocaust with the victims were being treated as just numbers to be eliminated. The lack of uniformity between the blocks helps acknowledge that the holocaust victims cannot and should not simply be reduced to just a statistic of six million Jews, but rather six million individuals with different personalities, hobbies and occupations. Walking between the blocks was a very sombre experience. Even on a sunny day, the blocks create dark shadows that tower over you. It reminds you of the scale of this genocide and that is something you will never forget. The memorial was designed by the American architect, Peter Eisenman, who had Jewish parentage, giving him a more personal connection to the site s purpose.

Memorial to the Murdered Members of the ReichstagA somewhat less conspicuous memorial lies right outside the Reichstag itself, the then German parliament. There rests the memorial to the murdered members of the Reichstag. It consists of 96 flat cast iron plates, each with the name of politician, arranged next to each other in one row. These Reichstag members were from different parties including the communists, social democrats and the German People s party. They were all responsible for opposing the Nazis rise to power and subsequently murdered either directly or in concentration camps. The memorial`s proximity to the Reichstag entrance is deliberate. It acts as a reminder to the politicians of today, of their duty to preserve democracy, the rule of law and freedom of speech to prevent tyranny from rising again.

The refurbished ReichstagAfter reunification of Germany, the destroyed dome of the Reichstag was rebuilt by British architect Sir Norman Foster. It is a giant glass dome 23.5 meters tall and has a diameter of 40 meters. Weighing at 1,200 tons, the glass dome offers beautiful panoramic views of the city from its top and visiting the dome at night allows the observation of the moon and the stars. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the glass floor and mirrors positioned at the centre of the dome. This gives a direct view for visitors into the Bundestag, the German parliament and all the meetings that take place below. The transparency of the building s structure highlights how Germany aims to be more open about its politics and that the people are above the government. It highlights the feeling that the politicians should be accountable for their actions directly in front of the people.

Sachsenhausen Concentration CampThe numerous concentration camps, where thousands of innocent people were tortured and killed, are preserved for visitors to see. These camps are the biggest stain on the nation s past, yet Germany has decided to preserve them to warn successive generations of the consequences of failing to oppose tyranny and collective hatred. Most notably, just outside Berlin is the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where between 1936 and 1945, 200,000 political prisoners and prisoners of war were kept and up to 35,000 were killed. The inmates consisted largely of KPD (German communist party) and SPD (German socialist party) members and were used as slave labour for the war effort. Branded on the iron gates is the slogan Arbeit Macht Frei which translates to work makes you free`! This is ironic and was intentionally placed to try and falsely reassure the prisoners that they would get out safely if they worked hard enough. The truth was much different, with torture, starvation and the death of over 17% of the population being killed. The camp was positioned close to factories belonging to many large companies including I.G Farben, Daimler Benz and Heinkel. This allowed the inmates from the camp to be used as slave labour to produce munitions for the war effort. In the camp, there are rough wooden beds crammed together for the prisoners to sleep. The entire camp is arranged in a semicircle around the main guard tower, which even now feels portentous. The eternal presence of the tower made the prisoners feel insecure and that they are always being watched, to crush any hopes for an escape or revolt.

Berlin-Grunewald stationAway from the city centre, is the Berlin-Grunewald station, which lies on the S-Bahn rail line. The station is situated in a wealthy and pleasant looking district. However, the shocking aspect is it was used for the deportation of Berlin s Jews for four years! During the first year, Jews were transported in cattle trucks to the ghettos of Warsaw and Litzmannstadt. However, from 1942 until February 1945 the trains ran directly to the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Theresienstadt. It is estimated that over 50,000 Jews passed through the station. The platform has plaques that mark the dates of each transport, the destination and the number of people transported. It reveal the grim systemisation of the killings and the level of atrocity. Even by late 1944 when it was obvious the Third Reich was doomed, instead of diverting resources to defending the nation, the Nazis continued to kill as many Jews as possible. It is a testament of the irrationality and indoctrination carried out by the regime.

Memorial to the murdered Sinti and RomaNot far from the Reichstag is the particularly moving monument to the murdered Sinti and Roma. The monument has a circular pool of water that remains still, making it quite surreal. The surrounding trees filter out the noise and bustle of the city traffic. The stillness of the water seems to convey how so many lives, which flowed like a river, were cut short and would never return. It also makes the place feel very timeless, where the memories of those who were slaughtered will never leave us. The stone in the pool s centre has a triangular shape in reference to the coloured triangular badges used by the SS to identify inmates. For example, a communist KPD member would wear a red triangle. The stone also has a fresh flower placed on it to commemorate the lives that were lost. Many of the stones around the pool have the names of the concentration camps etched into them implying, it is something that can never be forgotten.

My trip to Berlin was an unforgettable and moving experience. I was shocked at the barbarity and ignorance of a thinking that was meant to be civilised and advanced. The visit to the concentration camps made my blood freeze in shock at the horrifying treatment of fellow human beings. However, what I gained more positively was the way Germany is dealing with its past. It does not hide away but openly takes responsibility for the suffering it brought and is one of the most open-minded nations. Today Germany has a very refreshing attitude and is a testament to the importance of education and understanding as those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Experiences like these, make one feel very privileged to be living in a society where freedom of speech, human rights and the rule of law are as fundamental as food and water. Even today, many in the world don t share this privilege and continue to face persecution, just like the Jews faced 75 years ago. Many live in the grip of oppressive regimes or fanatic groups. Therefore, it is our responsibility as citizens of these free societies to learn from the past and maintain these values.This resource was uploaded by: Chinmay