Holocaust Monument Dedicated in Berlin

[Kellanved]

Sixty years after the end of WWII and 17 years after its inception, a German memorial to the Jewish victims of WWII genocide has been dedicated in Berlin.

The president of the German parliament, the monument's architect and the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany were among those who made speeches as the 19,000 square meter (4.7 acres) memorial -- a field of cement slabs situated at the Brandenburg Gate -- was officially dedicated. Also present were some 1,500 guests from around the world, including many Holocaust survivors.

It is an honor to give this monument to the German people," American architect Peter Eisenman (photo, with Lea Rosh) told the assembled guests, who included German President Horst Köhler and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

Paul Spiegel, the president of Central Council of Jews in Germany, took the opportunity to praise the project, but also criticized it for focusing on the victims rather than the perpetrators of the crime.

...
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1579615,00.html

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1574235,00.html

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/image/0,1587,1518187_10,00.jpg

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,426709,00.jpg

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,467976,00.jpg

http://www.holocaust-mahnmal.de/en


Jewish leader attacks new Berlin Holocaust memorial

[5thGenDemocrat]

1. Well, K, as a Berliner why don't you tell us what you think about it?

From ump-thousand miles away, I think it's great as a piece of art (in that it makes a successful effort to communicate the feelings and message of the artist), but I'm not so sure it works as a monument.
But, I am forming an opinion strictly on the basis of seeing photos and video of it. What's your take?
I hope you are doing well. How are things in the old country (dad's side was from near Munich, mom's from outside Breslau)?
John
It is now 38 days, 22 hours and 54 minutes to FUNDAY and the whole world is invited to attend.

[Kellanved]

2. Hmm

I agree with Paul Spiegel - it does not say enough about the perpetrators.
There are a dozen excuses for that; basically another museum is planned, on the grounds of the Reichs Chancellery. I don't think that this is a sound concept.

As a monument it is powerful, very unsettling to walk through. It is - like the over sized new governmental buildings - a very "Helmut Kohl" design, neatly hidden behind a row of trees. The original idea to construct a gigantic nameplate was a better one, at least I do think so.

IMHO the memorial should cry "why" and "who did it", putting a clear message the Reichstag's shadow. Instead it is a chilling, but somehow tame place; blending in with the Tiergarten park, the future American Embassy and everything else; pleasant to look at from a distance - not the heads-up to the people in the governmental district it could have been.


I think it was right to build the place and to keep it exclusive for the Shoa. While I do not agree with Kohl's decision to use the Eisenmann design, I can not deny that it is interesting. Kids will use it as a playground, tourists will make photos and Nazis will paint swastikas on it.
Time will tell.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Very unusual

I do not like much abstract art. Some of it is OK, but to each their own. However, the idea that a memorial done as an abstract can be a little confusing. I understand that the idea of mass genocide is a difficult concept, as is grief. It will be interesting to see how others respond to this display.