“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” -George Santayana
Germany has done a great job at digging up its dark past. Its many history museums, monuments and tours teach important lessons about humanity, politics, war and propaganda to locals and visitors alike. Take a look at some of the best ways history takes a front seat when touring this multifaceted city. The following museums are must-visits during your internship in Berlin.
1. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe or Holocaust Memorial, located where the Berlin Wall once stood, remembers the millions of Jewish lives lost during this horrific time. The 4.7-acre site contains a total of 2,711 concrete slabs. Underground visitors can see the names of 3 million victims. The memorial was inaugurated in 2005 a block from Brandenburg Gate. Before World War II Berlin held the largest Jewish population in Europe.
2. Neues Museum
Originally built in the 1800s, the Neues Museum or “New Museum” was reopened in 2009. The building was partially destroyed during World War II, causing the museum to close for several decades. Open once again, the Neues Museum’s main exhibits focus on Egypt, Prehistory and Early History. The building itself, which has Prussian iron constructions, serves as a testament to the industrial and technological innovations occurring at the time of construction.
3. Soviet War Memorial Treptow
This massive military cemetery and war memorial is based in Berlin’s Treptower Park. East Germany’s main war memorial, it commemorates 5,000 of the 80,000 Soviet soldiers that died in the Battle of Berlin. The city has two other Soviet memorials, the Tiergarten memorial and the Soviet War Memorial Schönholzer Heide.
4. Hitler’s Germany Tour
Discovering the horrors of Hitler’s Germany through this in-depth walking tour will shed more light onto the worst genocide in human history. Learn about Hitler’s rise to power and the impact on Europe’s Jewish population on this important history tour.
5. Topography of Terror
This outdoor and indoor museum also explores the nuanced darkness around Nazi Germany. Permanent exhibitions include “Berlin 1933–1945. Between Propaganda and Terror”, the “Topography of Terror Site Tour. The History of the Site” and “Topography of Terror. Gestapo, SS, and Reich Security Main Office on Wilhelm- and Prinz-Albrecht-Straße”.
6. Allied Museum
Learn more about the Cold War and international relations at the Allied Museum. Dedicated to Germany’s Western Allies, this museum explores the politics and military actions of the US, France and Britain in their commitment to a free Berlin.
7. Jewish Museum
One of the largest Jewish Museums in Europe, Berlin’s Jewish Museum includes three buildings and a permanent exhibition that takes visitors through 2,000 years of Jewish history. It starts with medieval settlements and ends with Nazi trials. The museum is one of Berlin’s most visited museums.
Learn more about an international internship in Berlin.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Museum,_Berlin, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_Museum, https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/aug/17/top-10-museums-berlin-city-guides, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topography_of_Terror
Photos
1. based on urban_views-426, by perceptions (creative pause), CC-by-ND 2.0
2. based on Topography of Terror, Berlin, by Abhijeet Rane, CC-by-2.0
3. based on Berlin, Spandauer Vorstadt 5/11 (hs79), by Ted and Jen, CC-by-2.0
