The Holocaust Memorial

A walking distance from Brandenburg Gate, located in front of the US Embassy you will be able to find the Holocaust Memorial. This large monument was built in memory of the Jewish victims who were murdered during the during the second world war. The creation of this monument is a very significant act, especially because it was built in a very central area of Berlin. The purpose is to remember what happened to those victims and to learn from the past.

In fact it is actually forbidden to climb the monument or paint graffiti on it, in order to show respect for those victims and to avoid condemnation of the monument. The decision to establish the monument came from the German parliament in 1999 and it was officially opened on the 10th of May 2005. The site is spread over 19K square metres, and has 2711 concrete slabs. The monument is open to the public all the time and when you walk between the slabs you will have a unique experience. You will be able to disappear and experience your own journey as an individual.

 During your walk between the slabs, you will see from time to time other pedestrians who will also disappear between the large slabs (and they will have their own journey too). The uniqueness of this experience is expressed in the fact that every pedestrian eventually experiences his walking journey from one end of the monument to the other end in a different way.

In order to move forward we have got to remember the past and make sure that the openness and acceptance of the city of Berlin will remain. In fact the creation of the monument places the past very close to all the residents of Berlin, and reminds them of the victims of the Holocaust. Expressing remorse and taking responsibility is a very significant step, and in fact this is one of the reasons why Germany has become a humanitarian place. The memory of the victims has led to a significant step in recovery and memory with the past and made Germany better and more tolerant.