Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin
Aerial view of Berlin's unique Holocaust memorial. Image © Google Earth.
The memorial consists of 2,700 concrete blocks on undulating ground.
Photo
mightymightymatze. 
A wavy path leads through memorial stones. Photo
Jaime Silva.
Visitors are encouraged to walk among the stones. Photo
Axel.
Panoramic view of the Memorial. Photo
Andreas H.
Photo
Jaime Silva.
Photo
Andreas H.
Path through taller stones. Photo
Jaime Silva.
Location map and aerial view of Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. For a larger interactive view, see our Berlin Map.
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas) is a large and unusual Holocaust memorial unveiled in May 2005 in central Berlin.
History
The idea of a central memorial to the Jews murdered by the Nazis was first proposed in 1988, when German Jewish journalist Lea Rosh founded a group to support its construction and to collect donations. But a year later, the Berlin Wall fell and Germany was busy with the tasks of rebuilding and reunifying the two Berlins and the two states.
The idea was proposed again a few years later, and a resolution was passed by the Bundestag in 1998 to erect the memorial. This time, its completion was delayed by bureaucratic hassles, disagreements over concept and design, and opposition from many Germans.
In June 1995, the plan of Christine Jackob-Marks (a large sloping concrete surface with the names of the victims chiseled in) was declared the winner, but Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl rejected it.
A plan by Peter Eisenman, a New York architect, emerged as the winner of the next competition in November 1997. In June 1998, the Bundestag decided in favor of Eisenman's plan, modified by attaching a museum, which Eisenman would also design.
Construction of the memorial began in April 2003. In October 2003, it was discovered that the German company Degussa provided some materials for the memorial and construction was halted - because a daughter company of Degussa had produced the Zyklon B poison used to murder people in the Nazi gas chambers. After some discussion, construction was resumed one month later, with continued involvement of Degussa.
On December 15, 2004, the memorial was finished. It was dedicated on May 10, 2005, as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of V-E Day. It opened to the public on May 12, 2005.
What to See
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is located near the Reichstag and the underground bunker where Hitler committed suicide. The designer has said, "I want it to be a part of ordinary, daily life. People who have walked by say it's very unassuming... I like to think that people will use it for shortcuts, as an everyday experience, not as a holy place."
The memorial consists of about 2,700 concrete slabs ("steles") arranged in a grid pattern covering 19,000 square meters. The steles are 2.38m long, 0.95m wide and vary in height from 0.2m to 4.8m. The ground slopes unevenly. Visitors are encourage to walk between the steles; the memorial can be entered from all sides and offers no prescribed path.
An attached underground "place of information" holds the names of all known Jewish Holocaust victims, obtained from the Jerusalem museum Yad Vashem. The cost of the memorial's construction has been estimated at €25 million.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe; Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas; Holocaust Mahnmal; Berlin Holocaust Memorial |
| Location: | Berlin, Germany |
| Category: | Monuments |
| Faith: | Judaism |
| Status: | monument |
| Date: | 2005 |
| Architecture: | Modern |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 52.51391° N, 13.378623° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Ebertstr. and Behrenstr., Mitte, Berlin, Germany |
| Phone: | 030/7407-2929 |
| Website: | www.holocaust-mahnmal.de |
| Hours: | Memorial: always open Information Center: daily 10-8 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Photography: | Permitted |
| Public transport: | S-Bahn: Unter den Linden |
Travel Resources
- Berlin Map - our detailed interactive map of Berlin, plus hand-picked links to more
- Berlin Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Berlin
- Berlin Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Berlin Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Berlin Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Berlin Flight Search - compare multiple travel sites to find the lowest airfare to Berlin
- Berlin Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Berlin Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Berlin tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visit (March 5, 2008).
- Foundation for the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe – official site
- Berlin opens Holocaust memorial – BBC News, May 10, 2005
- Germany ‘faces up to its history’ – MSNBC, May 10, 2005
- Germany unveils haunting memorial to murdered Jews – Reuters, May 10, 2005
- Berlin Holocaust memorial opening – CNN, May 10, 2005
- Berlin to dedicate Holocaust memorial – Jerusalem Post, May 9, 2005
Article last updated: 06/23/2009.
