The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin
In today’s San Jose Mercury News, I read about two Holocaust survivors and their long friendship that included five years in Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps. They first met as boys in Berlin, but became much closer after arriving at Sachsenhausen in 1939. The story of their time in the concentration camps and their lasting friendship is very touching.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin
The story also brought to mind my visit to the Holocaust Denkmal (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) in Berlin last month. I had been looking forward to seeing this memorial and had my first unexpected sight of it as I was in the taxi heading toward my hotel. It is situated on a 205,000 sq ft piece of land and consists of 2,711 concrete slabs. Viewing it from the street, the stones appeared to be no higher than a couple of feet.
Returning later, I walked through the rows. The ground actually slopes creating wavy patterns and at times, the slabs are towering over you. Each stone is a different size and shape. U.S. architect Peter Eisenman’s intent was to evoke the feelings of hopelessness and disorientation that the Jews themselves had felt during the Holocaust.
For more information about the Holcaust Memorial:
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Holocaust Memorial, Berlin
It’s quite eerie walking through this place, isn’t it? I was there in 2009, and took a nearly identical photo (http://ttftr.com/AqR2WP).
Eerie, indeed. Thanks for the link to your photo — very similar!
What a powerful and emotional memorial.
Yes, it is — a must-see in Berlin.
What a sobering sight – especially the sheer quantity of slabs.
Isn’t that a shocking number? I was very surprised at the enormity of the memorial.
I’ve heard about this place (I’m visiting Berlin in a couple of weeks). Looking forward to walking there and connecting with the sculptures.
Definitely visit the memorial. It’s very close to other important sites, too — Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag ….
I agree that it looks very eerie, and had to be an emotional experience!
Yes, I did feel emotional there — even more than I expected.
Definitely on the list for Berlin this. Thought-provoking, even 70 years after the war.
I think it’s especially important as time goes by to have these memorials — so that we don’t forget and that future generations will learn.
Memorials always hit me in the gut. A lump rose in my throat as I read the line about the slabs and their size.
Sounds like Mr. Eisenman achieved his goal of creating a feeling of disorientation.
I too will agree, it looks pretty eerie. Anyway, I visited a war memorial in Borneo last year which was probably 1/4 of the size of this one.
Powerful
Oohh, what an errie memorial. The story of the boys is very touching- I’m not sure why, but a lot of people have a fascination with this part of our history, including myself. I wonder what intrigues so many people?