In 2008 a small memorial to homosexuals persecuted by Nazism was inaugurated. As with other population groups persecuted by the Nazi regime, the homosexual community decided to place a memorial to their dead in the German capital. Homosexuals were persecuted by Nazism with great zeal, since they w
Popularly known as the Holocaust Memorial, the Memorial to the Dead Jews in Europe has become one of the most visited places in the German capital since its inauguration in 2005. The German State erects monuments to all the victims of Nazism as a whole, since it understands that no human being is a
When talking about Nazism and massacres, the general public automatically thinks of the Jewish holocaust. When documentaries or movies appear on the subject, it is implied that those killed in the camps are solely Jews. This is diametrically false. The Jewish people suffered the extermination of the
Ernst Friedrich, a German anarchist and pacifist, founded the anti-war museum in Berlin in 1925. Already from his youth Friedrich showed his anti-war leanings by refusing to fight in the First World War. Although he was eventually recruited, he ended up in prison for his beliefs. The museum was ra
Gatow Airport was a training center for German Luftwaffe pilots until its occupation by the Soviets in 1945. After the end of the war, the site became the military airport for the British sector of Berlin. Following the withdrawal of the British in 1994, Gatow Airport became Germanys military air mu
German resistance to Nazism was practically non-existent. Both because of the success that the Nazis had in convincing the citizens and because of the success they had in eliminating any attempt at rebellion, the resistance in Germany against Nazism is more a myth than a reality. Despite this, there
On May 8, 1945, the German Wehrmacht surrendered unconditionally to the occupying forces. The signing took place in an engineering barracks east of Berlin, in the district of Karlshorst. From that moment on, the place became the headquarters of the Soviet occupation troops in Germany. The victory c
At the end of the 19th century, the newly created German bought a palace on Berlins Wilhelmstrasse. In this palace the chancellery of the German Reich was located from that moment, the official residence of the chancellor or head of government. The building was occupied by Hitler from January 30, 19
In May 1945 there was victory in Europe. It was a great show of strength by the Soviet Union and by Stalin, who kept a country invaded by the German army alive for 4 years. The Western Allies gave Stalin the power to host the conference that would mark the end of the European war. Initially, the obj
In the last quarter of the 19th century, the Plötzensee prison was built north of Berlin, next to the lake of the same name. The prison was intended for prisoners serving short sentences and for whom reintegration was sought. Between 1933 and 1945 the prison served the National Socialist regime as
After the Nazi party came to power, the National Socialist regime began enacting laws that protected the persecution of anyone who did not conform to the racial or ideological standards of the party. To get rid of unwanted people, hundreds of facilities were created throughout Europe, in addition t
Built between 1888 and 1891, the Moltke Bridge links the two banks of the River Spree in the Tiergarten district, 600 meters from the Reichstag. The bridge was named in honor of General Moltke, commander of the Prussian army in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, which led to German unification afte
The Reichstag building -imperial parliament- today Bundestag – federal parliament – is one of the iconic buildings in Berlin. The former imperial parliament was erected in the 1980s to house the representative chamber of the newly created Germany, which only existed after the coronation of William
In 1938, given the difficulties of the German Reich to successfully complete the construction of large military buildings, the Todt Organization was founded. The organization takes its name from Fritz Todt, its director from 1938 until his death in 1942. This organization was in charge of startin
In 1866, the largest synagogue in Berlin, the New Synagogue, was opened. This religious center marked the full integration of Jews into Berlin society after religious freedom was allowed with the Edict of Potsdam in 1685. Jews had lived in Berlin since 1671, when 50 wealthy Jewish families expelled
Since November 9, 1938, known as the Night of Broken Glass, German Jews have been in the direct custody of the Nazi regime. Many were transferred to concentration camps, but many others remained in German cities and served the German war effort as forced labor. In 1940, Otto Weidt opened a brush w
The celebration of the 1936 Olympics was agreed by the International Olympic Committee in 1931. These games would mean the return of Germany to the international scene. This would be the second time that Berlin was chosen as the venue for the Olympic Games. In 1916 the German capital was going to ho
Berlin is a city built on a gigantic swamp. Over the centuries, this swamp has been drained to expand the city. Despite this, the current Berlin has 6% of its surface covered with water and the citys surface is sand. This soft and easily transformable soil was perfect for the construction of subways
The Free City of Danzig was in theory a demilitarized place between 1919 and 1939. Only the police owned firearms. However, due to the strategic location of the city, the reality was different. Since 1933 the implantation of the Nazi party in Danzig had been increasing. Although the party could not
Being the place where the Second World War began on September 1, 1939, the city of Gdansk, formerly Danzig, has been carrying out in recent years the enhancement of the places that are reminiscent of the war. In former spaces belonging to its huge shipyards, the Museum of the Second World War has
Half of todays Germany belonged to the Slavs a thousand years ago. Today there is almost no trace of them there. This was due to a series of mishaps. Here are the top 5 of them. As a warning. 5. The hunter becomes the game In 955, the coalition of the Lutykos and Obodrites (the two largest tri
Poles can be forgiven for believing that they won their own independence in 1918. However, this was not the case, wrote Norman Davies. And he was right. Who helped us create a free Poland? And have we remembered their merits? Of course, the contribution of Poles, both legionnaires and those figh
As of September 1, 1939, not all holidays were suddenly canceled, and Christmas did not disappear from the calendar. When December 24 approached, Poles looked for the first star and put hay under the tablecloth. But everything else has changed. The Polish people are not happy about the holidays
A hero for Scots, a character promoted to the world mainly by Mel Gibsons cult film Braveheart - Brave Heart. How was the legend of a key figure in the Scottish War of Independence born? Most readers are probably familiar with the character created by Mel Gibson in the famous 1995 film - a stout