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Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is an architectural ensemble on Breitscheidplatz, Berlin, made up of the ruin of the original neo-Romanesque church (built between 1891 and 1895) and a modern church designed by Egon Eiermann (built between 1959 and 1963). The 71-metre ruined tower is preserved as a memorial against war and houses on its ground floor a memorial hall with mosaics, bas-reliefs and historic objects such as a damaged statue of Christ, the Coventry Cross of Nails and an icon of the Virgin Mary from Volgograd. The new church, octagonal in plan, has walls with more than 20,000 coloured glass panes that cast a blue light inside. The complex also includes a hexagonal tower with a belfry and a chapel. The site is a landmark of West Berlin and an active venue for worship, concerts and exhibitions.

Things to do at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church: 18 missions

• Take in the baptismal fontLook at the baptismal font located to the left of the altar.
• Look at the mosaic of the Archangel Michael fighting the dragonLook at the floor mosaic of the Archangel Michael fighting the dragon.
• Look at the damaged statue of ChristLook at the damaged statue of Christ located at the centre.
• Take in the Stalingrad MadonnaLook at the Stalingrad Madonna, a symbol of hope and reconciliation.
• Take in the icon crossLook at the icon cross located to the left of the statue of Christ.
• Take in the cross on the altarLook at the cross on the altar, made of gilded silver with 37 rock crystals.
• Take in the organLook at the organ located in a gallery facing the altar.
• Take in the bas-reliefs depicting biblical scenesTake in the bas-reliefs illustrating biblical scenes, scenes from the life of Kaiser Wilhelm I, and symbolic figures of war and peace.
• Explore the memorial hallExplore the memorial hall located on the ground floor of the old church.
• Look at the Cross of NailsTake in the Cross of Nails, made from nails taken from the roof beams of Coventry Cathedral.
• Take in the figure of the Risen ChristLook at the figure of the Risen Christ suspended above the altar, facing the entrance.
• Look at the bronze plaque commemorating the Protestant martyrsTake in the bronze plaque that commemorates the Protestant martyrs who died under the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945.
• Take in the procession of Hohenzollern princesTake in the procession of Hohenzollern princes depicted on the vault.
• Take in the octagonal pulpitLook at the octagonal pulpit located to the right of the altar.
• Look at the mosaics of monarchs and thinkers of the ReformationLook at the mosaics showing important monarchs of medieval Germany, thinkers of the Reformation, and Reformation princes.
• Read the 16 information panels telling the story of the old church and its destructionRead the 16 information panels in the north apse that tell the story of the old church and its destruction.
• Take in the icon of the Virgin Mary of VolgogradLook at the icon of the Virgin Mary of Volgograd, the third work of art here.
• Look at the four sandstone figuresTake in the four sandstone figures located outside the hall.

Near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Source: gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de