Holocaust Memorial Berlin

 

"The ugliest thing I've ever seen," said a woman as she surveyed the holocaust memorial in Berlin.

I agree. And I see the power of art to evoke wordless emotional responses apropos to the reign of evil.

 Read more about this unusual artistic expression below.

Photo by Geoffrey W. Sutton, suttong.com

Link to my YouTube video 

https://youtube.com/shorts/Rwlo14aun0I?si=4-JyWZ0uSI4XJlGm

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The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, commonly known as the Holocaust Memorial, is a poignant tribute to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Located in Berlin, it was designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold. The memorial spans a 1.9-hectare site and features 2,711 concrete slabs or "stelae" arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field¹².

The idea for the memorial originated in the late 1980s, driven by a citizens' initiative led by journalist Lea Rosh and historian Eberhard Jäckel³. After years of debate and planning, the German parliament decided in 1999 to establish the memorial. Construction began on April 1, 2003, and was completed on December 15, 2004. The memorial was officially inaugurated on May 10, 2005, marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe¹⁴.

The stelae vary in height, creating an undulating wave-like form that invites personal reflection and interpretation. Beneath the field of stelae lies the "Place of Information," an underground information center that holds the names of approximately 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims, sourced from the Israeli museum Yad Vashem¹².

The memorial's location is also significant, situated near the Brandenburg Gate and the site of the former Berlin Wall's "death strip." This area once housed key Nazi government buildings, including Joseph Goebbels' urban villa³⁴.

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 10/12/2024

(1) . https://bing.com/search?q=history+of+the+Holocaust+memorial+in+Berlin.

(2) Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. http://www.stiftung-denkmal.de/.

(3) Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_to_the_Murdered_Jews_of_Europe.

(4) The Holocaust Memorial – Berlin - History and Facts | History Hit. https://www.historyhit.com/locations/the-holocaust-memorial-berlin/.

(5) Museumsportal Berlin - Museum – The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/en/museums/denkmal-fur-die-ermordeten-juden-europas-ort-der-information/.

(6) Holocaust remembrance – DW – 05/10/2010 - dw.com. https://www.dw.com/en/five-years-on-berlin-holocaust-memorial-is-a-landmark-of-remembrance/a-5559425.

(7) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/memorial-to-murdered-jews-of-europe-designed-by-royalty-free-image/998734990.

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The artistic presentation is not without controversy. See the link for a summary of some perspectives.

https://www.thoughtco.com/the-berlin-holocaust-memorial-by-peter-eisenman-177928

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Perhaps a more potent controversy was the association of the company that made the coating on the stones and the product used to murder Jews. See this quote and the link.

"Work resumes on Berlin Holocaust Memorial after halt in construction when it emerged that company profited from the production of Zyklon B gas during the war." 

Link to quote source 

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2003/12/01/work-resumes-on-berlin-holocaust-memorial-after-halt-in-construction-when-it-emerged-that-company-profited-from-the-production-of-zyklon-b-gas-during-the-war

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Geoffrey W. Sutton has a PhD in psychology and writes about psychology and culture.

Cornwall England UK

St Michael's Mount, Cornwall

 Cornwall is a ceremonial county in southwest England adjacent to the county of Devon.

See the links to places we visited in Cornwall below these photos.

We arrived at Penzance railway station from Plymouth to begin our exploration.

Next, we took the bus to Marazion.

Cornwall Explorer

Marazion, Cornwall

This lodge below is near the bus stop.

Off shore is an island known as St Michael's Mount where you will find incredible views above steep cliffs, beautiful gardens, and an old chapel with brilliant stained glass artwork.

Below is a photo of the causeway leading to St Michael's Mount.

Later, we took the bus to Lands End where we enjoyed more fabulous views, walking trails, and ice cream.

Lands End, Cornwall

We enjoyed visiting the area via the Cornwall Explorer.

A few more pictures in Cornwall.

BELOW ARE THE LINKS to the sites mentioned here and other places in the UK.

St Michael's Mount

Lands End

Plymouth (Mayflower site)

Places to visit in the UK

Places to visit in England

Places to visit in London

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Suggestion - Enjoy a variety of Cornish pasties

Google Map of Cornwall England

Lands End Cornwall England UK

The sign - The Lands End

Of course there's a welcome centre and shop.

 Whilst at Lands End, you may want to visit the historic Greeb's Farm.

There's plenty of trails for exercise and opportunities to enjoy the coastal views.

Off shore is a rocky island known as the Armed Knight.

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Google Map showing Lands End and the Penzance Railway Station

St Michael's Mount, Cornwall England UK

St Michael's Mount is a tidal island located in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, England.

The views from the mainland are stunning.

The Mount is connected to the town of Marazion, Cornwall  by a causeway that is passable between midtide and low water.
 

The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It has a castle and chapel that have been home to the St Aubyn family since around 1650.

Before heading back to the main land, a look at some flowers.

The island features subtropical gardens and offers stunning views of the surrounding bay.

Historically, St Michael's Mount served as a counterpart to Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France.

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Website: St Michael's Mount Cornwall – Historic Castle & Island (stmichaelsmount.co.uk)

Google Map

Betws-y-Coed, Wales UK

Betws-y-Coed is a charming village and community nestled

 in the Conwy valley within Conwy County Borough, Wales. 

Its name translates to “prayer-house in the woods” in Welsh.

 

Enjoy some shopping and lunch or refreshment as you wander 

about the village.

St. Mary’s Church in Betws-y-Coed, Wales, 

is a captivating Anglican parish church with a rich history.

 

The church was built between 1870 and 1873 to accommodate the growing number of summer visitors to the area. It replaced a medieval church dedicated to Saint Michael. The Lancaster partnership of Paley and Austin designed it, with the commission won by Hubert Austin. The principal benefactor was Liverpool businessman Charles Kurtz.

 

St. Mary’s features a cruciform plan with a tower at the crossing and an organ chamber to its south. The exterior is constructed in rubble stone with sandstone dressings, and it has slated roofs. The architectural style is Transitional Norman. Notable features include lancet windows, a five-light chancel window with plate tracery, and a rose window.

 

Inside, you’ll find arcades with pointed arches, a font in black and burgundy marble, and a sandstone pulpit in Early English style. The chancel floor is tiled, and the choir stalls and reading desks follow an Arts and Crafts design. The exquisite stained glass includes works by Shrigley and Hunt of Lancaster and others based on designs by Edward Burne-Jones.

Betws-y-Coed is a haven for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. 

With two rivers running through it, the village feels like something out of a fairytale. Explore the verdant forests, cascading waterfalls, and incredible walks in the area.

Pronunciation

An approximation of the way to say the town's name is 

   bet-ooze-uh-koid

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VISIT WALES

More places to see in Wales

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Google Map for Betws-y-Coed

King's Cross Railway Station London England

King's Cross Railway Station, London
8 May 2016

King's Cross is a major London railway station for northbound trains to York, England, Scotland, and other northern stations. The station code is KGX.

Outdoor entertainers at King's Cross, 2024

King's Cross 2024

Inside, people wait for the board to reveal the platform for their journey.

 

King's Cross 15 Aug 2013

Panorama King's Cross

I often stop for a pasty.

Platform 9, King's Cross

Below street level, several underground train lines link King's Cross and nearby St. Pancras to the London Underground or Tube.

My journeys began on the Northern Line on which my grandad worked when it extended to his home neighbourhood of East Finchley.

Northern Line train at King's Cross
18 April 2017

Tube Image from 2016

The fictional story of Harry Potter claims platform 9 3/4. It's a favourite photo stop and shop for visitors from all over the world.

King's Cross Railway Station (also written without the apostrophe) is in the London Borough of Camden. The station was completed in 1852. The name comes from a monument to King George IV. King's Cross is also the name of the nearby neighbourhood and close to St Pancras International Railway Station where you can board the Eurostar to Europe.

The building was modernised in the early 2000s.

In 2024, there were 11 platforms for overground trains.

Combined with St Pancras, there are more underground lines here than anywhere else in London. Here's a list from 2024:

Circle

Hammersmith & City

Metropolitan

Northern

Piccadilly

Victoria

Images and text by Geoffrey W. Sutton at suttong.com

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Nearby

British Museum

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St Pancras Railway Station

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