Neue Wache Memorial

Berlin as a city experiencing a range of up and downs has many monumental architectures, which stand for varieties of historical events of Germany in terms of political, economic, cultural and social aspects.

The Neue Wache ("New Guard House") is a building in central Berlin, the capital of Germany. It is located on the north side of the Unter den Linden, a major east-west thoroughfare in the centre of the city.

As a memorial, it represents the German victimhood and guilt.

It is not only a guardhouse or memorial because it is the witness of Germany's history from the monarchy time to chaotic time to a democratic and reunified country.

A place of meditation and remembrance right in the middle of the busy city – the Neue Wache is the memorial for the victims of war and dictatorship.

The Neue Wache, which means 'New GuardHouse' was served as a royal guardhouse of the palace. King  Frederick William III of Prussia  ordered the construction of the Neue Wache as a guardhouse for the  Königliches Palais  (Royal Palace), his palace across the road, to replace the old Artillery Guardhouse.

He commissioned Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the leading exponent of  Neoclassical architecture , to design the building: this was Schinkel's first major commission in Berlin. The Neue Wache was inaugurated on 18 September 1818 by the Prussian  1st Guards Grenadiers  on occasion of the official visit of Tsar  Alexander I of Russia .

Neoclassical architecture is based on the principles of simplicity and symmetry, which were seen as virtues of the arts of Rome and Ancient Greece, and were more immediately drawn from 16th-century Renaissance Classicism. As leading by the neoclassical ideas in architecture, Schinkel drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity too. Evidence of this symbolic connection can be seen in the tympanum above the door, depicting the Greek goddess Nike deciding a battle.

In response to discussions on building a memorial for German soldiers killed in World War I. Renovated in 1931, around the same time as the construction of the French and American tombs to the unknown soldier, the Neue Wache became a place of national honor symbolizing the voluntary sacrifice of individuals for their nation.

The renovation included the addition of a skylight, beneath which was placed a large block of black granite. A sculpted oak wreath was placed on a black granite block accompanied by two slender candles and the simple inscription, "1914-1918." Symbolizing both a sarcophagus and an altar, the interior invoked almost religious mourning and voluntary sacrifice for the nation.

During the Weimar Republic, it was open to the public and many people came here to visit. The famous picture that a girl visit the WWI Memorial in Neue Wache.

Since Hitler came to the power of the government of German, the Neue Wache became the symbol of military and politics gradually.

The building played a vital role as the site of the annual  Heroes' Memorial Day  celebrations held by the Nazis and the  Nazi German armed forces .

The Neue Wache was bombed during the last months of WWII and was damaged greatly. This is a photo shows the relic of the Neue Wache in 1945.

In the 1950s, the Neue Wache remained as a relic of a historical sites.

Prior to the 1951  communist   World Festival of Youth and Students , the East German leader  Walter Ulbricht  had two neoclassical  marble  statues of  Gerhard von Scharnhorst  and  Friedrich Wilhelm Bülow  by  Christian Daniel Rauch  removed from the sides of the portico.

From 1957 the East German authorities had the Neue Wache rebuilt as a Memorial of WWII.

As it is rebuilt and opened in 1960 as a Memorial to the Victims of Fascism and Militarism.

During the East Germany time, the memorial has 2 guardians outside the building. This is a photo showing they are exchanging the guardian. As the special representative meaning of the Neue Wache, it also showed the power and survailence over the East Berlin by Soviet government.

Since the fall of Berlin War and German reunified, the Neue Wache was again rededicated in 1993 as the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of  Germany  for the Victims of War and Tyranny.

Born in the Prussian city of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) in 1867, Käthe Kollwitz established herself in an art world dominated by men by developing an aesthetic vision centered on women and the working class. The loss of her son during World War I, led to a lifelong exploration of the subject of mourning. She centered in woman and depicted universal human experiences, given depth and emotional power through her dense networks of lines and light and dark contrasts, were also reflective of her time. The new sculpture in Neue Wache was inspired by Käthe Kollwitz's "Mother with the Dead Son"

An enlarged version of Kathe Kollwitz's sculpture, "Mother with Her Dead Son" --that of a small bronze statue of a mother holding her dead son in her arms. Placed directly under the Oculus – and on top of the remains of the unknown soldier and concentration camp victim.

The design of the skylight just right on the sculpture. Through the window, the sunlight or rain will only fall on the "mother", which represents the people and their loves.

"Where national memories are concerned, griefs are of more value than triumphs, for they impose duties, and require a common effort."

Victimhood serves as a powerful force of national solidarity, whereas guilt divides an already deeply divided society.

Nowadays, as the characters of the Neue Wache, it is used both for the cultural and political use. For example, This is the Prince Charles who visited the Neue Wache in 2020. He came to mourn and showed the bonds between British people and German people.

https://walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/the-four-faces-of-the-neue-wache-memorial/

https://www.moma.org/artists/3201

https://www.berlinexperiences.com/featured-berlin-experiences/step-inside-the-neue-wache/

https://www.jstor.org/stable/23737375?seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/neue-wache-memorial