Compare the interior design of Neue Wache during the Weimar
Republic with today's. How has its symbolic significance changed?
From the pictures provided from the Federal Government’s
website of the Neue Wache to what we saw today, I noticed little change in the
structure of the building, with the obvious exception of the memorial found at
its center. The difference I noticed between the Neue Wache during the Weimar
Republic and today was the introduction of the remains of an unknown soldier
and an unknown prisoner from a concentration camp in 1969. In Canada, we have a
memorial for the Unknown Soldier found fighting with Canadian Forces, which is
where our national Remembrance ceremony is held and is a source of pride.
Whereas in the Neue Wache, the Unknown Soldier and prisoner act as a sensitive
issue, but also as a vehicle. Atop the remains is the two, there is the
memorial of what can be assume to be a mother holding her child. The
arrangement in the Neue Wache is significant as it pairs the memorial of war
and tyranny with the unknown prisoner with the Unknown Soldier without any
explicit claims that the memorial is also for Germany as the Unknown Soldier
and prisoner may or may not have been Germans. In my opinion, the Neue Wache
changed from having an abstract memorial to having a ‘common’ image atop unspecified
individuals as a way to also include Germany in a memorial for everyone.
3 comments:
I like your reference to Canada's unknown solider. It is very interesting that 2 very similar memorials can stir up different feeling based on the past experiences of the people, although both do have some similiar emotions - sadness, regret, etc. To me it is also interesting that something like statue used in Neue Wache could have easily been used on the Unknown solider grave because in essence it could just as easily project that image. I think that is likely where a lot of the controversy arises from, because it is not specific (or general - depending on how you look at it) enough; it does not indicate who exaclt it is for.
I think that the Neue Wache is left for interpretation of the viewer. Some can include Germans and some may not. Robert, you believe that the Neue Wache does in fact commemorate the Germans. Do you think that this includes the German soldiers that fought for the Nazis in World War II, the German perpetrators, and the German civilians? What if some of the German soldiers were forced to fight for the Nazis in fear of their and their family's lives. Could you be more specific in your definition of the "Germans" commemorated in this memorial?
To tell you the truth Brooklyn, I do not think I can be more specific in my definition of "German". On Remembrance Day we place a reef at the Unknown Soldiers grave among other things. The idea that the soldier is unknown makes the site a focal point for such commemorative events as it is not specific to any persons (although it is use in to foster the Canadian identity in my opinion). It is unspecified as in war there is no true victor and to place blame and punish the perpetrators rather than taking actions to prevent a reoccurrence can have consequences (ex. WWI caused WWII because Germany took all the blame and as a result suffered conditions that allowed Hitler to come to power). To divide or 'other' people creates gaps and more differences and can lead to more conflict. This may not be the answer you are looking for, but many people including the father of JFK and the Irish leader, de Valera (you is a scumbag in my opinion) supported what Hitler was doing. Although they may have not know his grand scheme. In rowing, as in life you go through life moving forward while looking behind you. To answer your question, the memorial is for all Germans in my opinion as War takes away from everyone because the cycle needs to stop somewhere or the future generations will be writing about WWIII. Do you disagree? Should there be an exclusion? How will that help us move forward as a species?
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