The Holocaust Memorial, Berlin, Germany

Germany_Berlin_holocaust memorial bw
Looking up through the steles to the sky. A view that many never got.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is the official name in English. It's a beautifully somber sculpture of over 1300 concrete stelae set into an undulating ground of spaced granite pavers set intentionally to make your walking slightly precarious. And as you move further into the two-block square memorial, the ground falls away and the stelae become taller, and you get a sense of being lost and surrounded. The best time to visit is near sunset, when the play of light and shadow is most dramatic. It puts you in the dark below, yet you can see the light above–just out of reach.

The Holocaust Memorial was designed by American architect Peter Eisenman. It sits on the former site of the gardens of the Reichs Chancellory, the headquarters of Hitler's government. Today, it's in a neighborhood of apartment buildings, though it still seems utterly isolated. In all, it's a well conceived memorial showing courage on the part of the Germans to acknowledge their history.

If you visit, try not to be one of the ones taking the smiling selfies.

germany berlin holocaust memorial bw 2
The anonymous symbolism of the nameless millions.
germany berlin holocaust memorial
In a way, you have to admire the Germans for putting this reminder of their terrible history right in the middle of their capital.

Note: We were able to squeeze in this quick trip to Berlin with the help of Eurail. We used our passes in and around Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam, certainly a pleasant and efficient way of getting around Europe.

Please read our post about Auschwitz Birkenau death camps here.

And see our post about another Holocaust Memorial in Rumbula, Latvia, here.

Up Your Travel Skills

Looking to book your next trip? Use these resources that are tried and tested by us.

First, to get our best travel tips, sign up for our email newsletter.

Then, be sure to start your reading with our Resources Page where we highlight all the great travel companies and products that we trust.

Travel Accessories: Check out our list of all the accessories we carry to make getting there and being there a lot easier.

Credit Cards: See our detailed post on how to choose the right travel rewards credit card for you.

Flights: Start finding the very best flight deals by subscribing to Thrifty Traveler.

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with Booking.com.

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. We recommend Allianz Travel Insurance.

See all of the gear and books we like in one place on our Amazon shop.

1 thought on “The Holocaust Memorial, Berlin, Germany”

  1. Love the lowlights and contrasts in this shot. It really gives a sense of foreboding, which is appropriate given the somber events this memorial commemorates!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

If you liked this post, please share it.

Thanks.