Neue Wache

important German place. inside a Bronce from Käthe Kollwitz. If you like her artwork, a must to visit.
Don't miss the Käthe Kollwitz Museum, not to far away!

The Neue Wache is a monument to the memory of victims of war and tyranny. The monument is housed in a Neoclassical building and has a sculpture of a mother holding her dead son. Depicted almost as an allegory to La Pieta, the mother cradles the head of her son in her arms and her grief is overwhelming. The sculpture stands alone in an otherwise empty hall, which adds to the poignancy. There's an empty skyline directly overhead, shining don on the statue to add to the allegorical theme.

This place was free to get into. It has a beautiful exterior. There is one sculpture in a giant open area. We thought that it was worth the 10-minute stop. It's located in between other places that we were sightseeing, and we passed it along our walk and noticed it right away. I had also seen it on a site that listed cool pictures in Berlin.

The monument and story behind is just impressive and sad. Open hole in a ceiling which pours rain on a statue makes u feel this pain through years.

Definitely worth visiting this memorial dedicated to victims of war. Schinkel designed the building. ‘Mother holding her dead son’ statue by Käthe Kollwitz creates a somber atmosphere. There’s no charge to visit.

A very somber place that should be on any stop. It's a walk-up place, so no need to buy any tickets.

A nice memorial to the ones fallen at the hands of blood-thirsty war-mongers. The architecture is grandeous but the message inside is quite minimalistic yet strong.

Dedicated to the victims of the war, this monument is definitely worth visiting. There is a statue of "Mother and her dead son" inside.

A nice visit while in Berlin.

Neue Wache or New Gaurd House was constructed in 1816-18 for the royal palace. It is an impressive building with Prussian Neoclassical Architecture. After World War Two it was converted into a memorial. However, after unification in 1993, it is now central Memorial to the victims of war. I side is statue 'Mother and her dead Son'. It does not take much time to visit. It is very near to Berlin cathedral.

A breath-taking WW2 memorial that portrays the agony and suffering of a German lady that lost both her son and grandson in the brutal war. The statue of the mourning lady stands in the middle of a big Hall that has a roof with a circle opening just upove the statue giving it connection to the open skies.

Very beautiful memorial. When you go inside, you can't help but stare at the sculpture in silence. A hole in the ceiling directly above the sculpture allows a bit of sun light to come into the room during the day. It also exposes the "mother and dead son" to the elements during different seasons (rain, snow, etc.). Incredibly beautiful and moving

The Neue Wache in Berlin, Germany, has stood as a solemn memorial to the victims of war and tyranny for over two centuries. During the era of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the Neue Wache underwent significant changes in its symbolism and function. In this article, we explore the transformation of the Neue Wache during the GDR period, highlighting its evolving role as a symbol of remembrance and political narrative.

Historical Background:
Originally built in 1816 as a guardhouse, the Neue Wache's purpose shifted over time. It served as a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars and later became a memorial for the victims of World War I. The architectural design, with its neoclassical elements, evokes a sense of solemnity and reverence.

Memorialization During the GDR Era:
In the aftermath of World War II, the Neue Wache took on new significance in the GDR era. The East German government sought to reshape the memorial's narrative to align with its political ideology. The focus shifted to commemorating victims of fascism, imperialism, and war, with an emphasis on portraying the GDR as a defender of peace and socialism.

Central Memorial Room:
During the GDR period, the interior of the Neue Wache was redesigned to accommodate a central memorial room. The room housed a sculpture titled "Mother with her Dead Son" by Käthe Kollwitz, a renowned German artist. The sculpture depicted a grieving mother cradling her lifeless son, symbolizing the immense human suffering caused by war and tyranny.

Political Symbolism and Propaganda:
While the Neue Wache was intended to honor the victims of war, it also became a tool for political propaganda in the GDR era. The government used the memorial to reinforce the narrative of the GDR as the legitimate successor to the anti-fascist resistance and to highlight the alleged threat posed by Western imperialism.

Changing Narratives and Unification:
With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent reunification of Germany, the Neue Wache's narrative underwent another transformation. The reunified German government sought to redefine the memorial as a space for remembrance and reconciliation, acknowledging the victims of all wars and totalitarian regimes.

Contemporary Significance:
Today, the Neue Wache continues to serve as a memorial to the victims of war and oppression. The central memorial room, now redesigned, houses the sculpture "Mother with her Dead Son" and serves as a space for contemplation and reflection. The memorial stands as a symbol of the complexities of history and the importance of remembering and learning from past atrocities. Usefull? Like Mike:)

A place to stand and think for a bit

Well worth a visit. It is unfortunate that the former memorial, conceived by a group of East German artists (on view at Zitadelle Spandau), has been removed undemocratically by former Chancellor Helmut Kohl after the fall of the wall.

I'm a bit surprised I haven't really heard of this memorial until I stumbled unto it by accident. Somehow the stark, elegant simplicity of this memorial moved me very deeply: the sculpture of a mother mourning for her son, exposed to the harsh elements through an oculus in the building, said a lot more than any words could convey.

A quiet, powerful space to reflect on the ravages of war, glory, and "pro patria mori, dulce et decorum est"

Its a touching memorial. I think everybody should see this at least once. And you should read the explanation outside and then go inside.

Small and simple, but that’s all it really needs to be. An interesting memorial amidst all the other buildings surrounding it. When there isn’t a large school of kids on tour there, the silence allows for introspective contemplation.

Of all the monuments built to speak of the horrors of war, none touched me more than that. The temple designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, perhaps the most important German architect, originally housed monuments to the heroes of the war. After the Second War they decided to put the sculpture of the Pieta, of Käthe Kollwitz, the image of a mother hugged to the body of the dead son found in a field of battles. Käthe Kollwitz was a powerful artist, committed to the weak, the poor and fierce criticism of the injustices and violence of the world. What used to be a space of praise for virile violence, became a space for human and feminine suffering. Nothing more sensitive, touching and powerful to give a new and fair meaning to the building and the idea of ​​the "heroes of wars".

Beautiful place. With great History