Berlin blog 2.
Spirits were high this morning, Gabe is scheduled to meet us this afternoon after lunch and everyone is very happy to have him back.
This morning Alex led us to the famous Brandenburg gate. The gate has changed hands several times throughout history. During the Napoleonic wars the French swept into what was then Prussia and claimed Berlin. Napoleon was very taken by the bronze statue, dedicated to the Greek God Nike (victory). He brought back the statue to France and changed a few things about the goddess astride a horse drawn chariot. But, 10 years later the Prussians had their revenge and took back Nike and set her atop her rightful place. Gave her an iron cross in order to mock the French.
After we made our way under the gate marking a cross from west to east We made our way to the Holocaust memorial that had just been completed in 2005. A very controversial process eventually led to a large area with 2,711 of large cement blocks ranging from 0-14 feet high. The blocks are plain, there is no decoration or anything of that nature. which leads to a somber and bleak vision that aligns with the Holocaust. What is very interesting about this sight is its location. It is within sight of the Reichstag and just meters away from personal bunker of Adolf Hitler which is the place that he committed suicide in the waning days of the war. The mans health was waning and his megalomania finally overtook him, and unable to truly accept defeat he took poison and had his men cremate his body with gasoline.
After a brief coffee stop to warm our bones in what seemed like the coldest day of the trip. We arrived at the center of communications among some of the other main office buildings that made up the Nazis HQ. The buildings were massive to say the least. This is why they are still standing today. Because of their size they were able to survive the bombings and the soviets took residence for them during their reign. Our next stop was the Topography of Terror. A building occupy the former space of the Gestopos HQ. And within sight of one of still remaining sections of the Berlin Wall. The museum is dedicated to the memory of those prosecuted by the nazis. They also went into great detail of the methods used. I was able to listen to a some testimonies recorded during the Nuremberg hearing that described the methods used by the nazis when new arrivals came on the trains to concentration camps. Often no more than a couple seconds were given to the victims determining if they would be sent to work or sent to the gas chambers. Another special exhibit showed images taken by Jewish photographers in the ghettos. They gave an insight into one of the bleakest and most humanly demeaning aspects of the Holocaust. From children cramped into overcrowded rooms to elders laying dead frozen or starved to death in the streets. We then bid farewell to Alex before we broke for lunch.
After lunch we were reunited with Gabe. Moods immediately perked up and laughter. Our first stop was outside of the soviet embassy building that was decorated commemorating their victory. We learned of the the history of their control in Berlin and why the Soviet Union eventually fell apart. Our next and final stop of the day was my favorite. The German Parliament buildings; the Reichstag. Fully restored in the 90s today it is very open and full of glass so those visiting can see the parliament. A very deliberate decision to show the world that they are not up to anything like the nazis did behind the closed doors. The glass dome stop the building offered a stunning panorama were we were able to catch the sun setting over Berlin as our day came to an end. (Photo at the top)
