February 29
We went to the German history museum today. We could spend several days
just looking at things. But we both acknowledge that about 90 to 120 minutes
is our limit. As far as I could tell they did a very unbiased coverage to the
20th century.
One thing that I had not known about WW I was that on the "home front" in
Germany over 700,000 people died from starvation or malnutrition. The Germans
like the English thought the war would be over in a matter of months. They were
totally unprepared for the necessity of producing so many war related articles.
And food rationing was devastating there. Obviously the English made it through
WW I in better shape at home.
One of the positive aspects of post WW II was that the American soldiers who
were part of the occupying force in Germany were so kind as individuals to the
German people that the Germans formed a strong bond with the US.
After WW I their country had been devastated and they had nothing but war
reparation to pay. We and apparently others (besides the USSR) were a
kinder conquering force after WW II.
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Mar 1 (7 days ago)
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March 1 Breitscheidplatz -the heart of West Berlin
Destroyed by bombs in 1943. Public protested when the old tower was going to
be razed so the new church was designed to incorporate the remnants of the
old tower.
The neo-Romanesque church meant to glorify the first German emperor was built
between 1891 and 1895 and was designed by Franz Schwechten. After the church was
destroyed in a bombing raid in 1943, the ruins, which served as a testament to the
horrors of war, were going to be demolished in 1956 so as to make room for a new
structure. However, the people of Berlin protested fervently in favour of integrating the
ruins into the new church.
The modern structure was built between 1959 and 1961 and was designed by
Egon Eiermann.
Original church completed in 1906.
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Notice the church in the background.
Berlin is the name of a sculpture on the Tauentzienstraße in western Berlin, the capital of Germany.
First conceived in 1985 and unveiled by the husband-and-wife sculpting team ofBrigitte Matschinsky-Denninghoff and Martin Matschinsky in 1987,[1] the sculpture's principal motif, a "broken chain", was meant to symbolize the severed connections between West and East Berlin due to the construction of the Berlin Wall.[2]
Even though the Wall has since been dismantled, the sculpture was bought by the city from Mrs. Matschinsky-Denninghoff to commemorate the unfortunate chapter in German history.[1]
Super Cut
I found a place to get a hair cut just a few blocks from where we were staying and I was able to get my hair done after a very short wait.
We finally found a place here in Berlin that sells Dad's cookies.
They cost 99 cents (Euro cents) a bag. Can you imagine? Now how are we going to take a month's supply home with us on Thursday?
March 2 Jewish Museum
There is no way to describe this museum except with an aerial photograph. You actually enter through the old yellow building with the red roof. However, the museum itself is a wandering maze as you can see. It covers Jewish history from about 300 AD to 1945. Huge amount of exhibits and huge amount of walking.
All of the dark lines on the modern silver building are windows. And the only kind of windows that are in the building.
I just realized that I did not take any exterior pictures, so I am glad there are a lot online.
Lots of empty space and corridors. The windows on the right exhibit journals and pictures that have been donated by family members who survived the war.
Holocaust tower...this is looking upwards towards the sky. It is massive.
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