Have you seen the three memorials in Berlin. If we speak about places like Brandenburger Tor, Topography of Terror or the Berlin wall almost everyone have heard about them. But if you are interested in history and humanity, there at least three more places that you should visit.
Field of stelae
Most famous is the Holocaust memorial also known as the Field of stelae. An impressive outdoor memorial over the 6 millions jews who was extinct by the Nazi-regim. I would recommend that you either visit the information center or use an audio guide to get as much as possible out of it. The information center is free och charge, even if there could be long queues.
Its not uncommon to see youth and adult running around, playing hide and seek among the 2710 concrete steles. For me this is an action of disrespect. So please when you come here, show the respect the victims of Holocaust deserve.
MEMORIAL TO THE SINTI AND ROMA
Porajmos, the deconstruction of the Sinti and Roma people during the Nazi-regim is probably the part of the holocaust we speak least about. But its a sad fact that between 250 – 500 000 Sinti and Roma people was murdered because who the where. Maybe the relative silence about the Porajmos is a result of the ongoing discrimination against Sinti and Roma people. As a result this memorial is much more calm the the Field of stelae. So when you come here its really gives you an opportunity to reflect over the human evil.
MONUMENT TO HOMOSEXUALS PERSECUTED UNDER NATIONAL SOCIALISM
This monument is just across the road from Field of stelae. Its an singel stel at the edge of Tiergarten with a window where you will see some same sex love films.
It should work both as an memorial of homosexuals persecuted by the nazis and a constant signal against homophobia. One one hand this is more then welcome, but at the same time its important to know that homosexuality was still forbidden in both East and West Germany until 1968/1969 respectively. But it was not until 2002 the German Government decided to overturn any convictions for homosexuality made by the Nazi-regim.
Visit them
The three memorials in Berlin constantly reminds us about the human evil. Thet are al close to each other and Brandenburger Tor. So give your self some time to visit them, to reflect over the destiny over al those who was killed by the Nazi-regim and stand up for those who are persecuted to day. In the final end, we are just al humans.
Because they are al central located in Berlin there is a lot of hotels to choice between. if you are looking for a luxurious stay there is the world famous Adlon Kempinski almost around the corner. How ever most of al us would like something less pricy as IBIS or Novotel suites, both at Potsdamer Platz