Neue Wache during the Weimar Republic was used as a memorial, and was titled "Memorial Site for the Fallen of the World War." Creating a symbolic reference to those who sacrificed their lives for Germany during the First World War. This was accomplished with an approximately 2 meter high black block of granite placed in the center of the room, accompanied by a wreath of silver and gold oak leaves. This is displayed with the help of a large circular skylight, providing the memorial with ample light.
Neue Wache as we see it today is rather updated, titled the “Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany to the victims of war and tyranny.” The title itself offers a much more encompassing memorial than that of the past, as it includes Germans as well as Jews and other victims. Although the interior was destroyed during the Second World War and later restored, it was done so in a way to resemble its time during the Weimar Republic. The main focus of change would be the statue that has replaced the block of granite in the center of the memorial. As it now presents a mother and her son, presumably with her protecting her son from these acts of tyranny. Thus it updated symbolic meaning might be to commemorate victims of war, but more specifically to commemorate victims who were wrongfully victimized during World War II.
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