Die Kaiser-Wilhelm Gedaechtniskirche by junge1
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Description
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is located on the Kurfuerstendamm in the center of the Breitscheidplatz.
Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to name the church in honor of his grandfather Kaiser Wilhelm I. The foundation stone was laid on March 22, 1891, which was Wilhelm I's birthday. The competition for the design was won by Franz Schwechten who planned for a large church to be built in Romanesque Revival style, including 2,740 square meters (29,500 sq-ft) of wall mosaic. The spire was 113 m (371-ft) high and the nave seated over 2,000 people.
The church was consecrated on September 1, 1895. By the time of the consecration the entrance hall in the lower section had not been completed. This was opened and consecrated on February 22, 1906.
In the Second World War, on the night of November 23, 1943 , the church was irreparably damaged in an air raid. The church was largely destroyed but part of the spire and much of the entrance hall survived (Source: Wikipedia).
Our block of apartments in the "Freie Scholle' in Berlin-Tegel was also destroyed that night - but my mother and I had left in August of that year to go to the Sudetenland.
A new church was erected adjacent to the old ruins. For decades during the Cold War, the ruins of the church were symbolic of the freedom in West-Berlin. Since the fall of the wall the church's significance has somewhat diminished.
This picture was taken on 23 December 2013,
Sig...
Comments (25)
jayfar
A wonderful mix of old and new.
SunriseGirl
Wow! that is quite a story. I had not realized you lived there during that time frame. the story gives this photo additional interest. Thanks for sharing.
bazza
Wonderful shot and info as always Sig, I just keep looking at the other buildings and wonder what they are the lighter grey one that looks unfinished looks like a cardboard cut out placed there and the dark grey one looks like it needs windows.
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
Crudelitas
For others, perhaps the TV tower is the landmark of Berlin, but for me it was always that destroyed church ... A sad chapter of German history ... A very beautiful photo!
junge1
@bazza! Thats new architecture for you!
erlandpil
Wonderful shot again erland
bebopdlx
Cool shot, neat info.
Richardphotos
Berlin must have been an architects dreamland before WWII with all the ornate buildings. I was a "war baby" but knew nothing of the price paid by thousands of people with their life. even the Korean conflict was a mystery to myself
giulband
wery good !
barryjeffer
What a remarkable structure... wonderful shot.
Faemike55
Very cool capture and wonderful history lesson
UVDan
The juxtaposition of the old and new makes for an interesting photo.
starship64 Online Now!
Great photo, and that's a wonderful story.
RaykesPictures
Old & New, NICE!
Juliette.Gribnau
Love it ! (have seen it in real time, years ago, when the wall was still there
illkirch
If I remember well it's called the "hollow tooth"
drifterlee
It must have been a beautiful church before the war. Nice shot!
ontar1
An interesting history, beautiful church!
farmerC
Beautiful contrast between old and new.
angora
TG it wasn't your time yet!! (what horror that your place was destroyed!!) glad that at least part of the church survived, looks wonderful!! (almost our entire city vanished during WWII. most bombarded place in the Netherlands (88 times), due to a stratigic location. dikes were destroyed too, on purpose 'of course') a most stunning shot!!
dakotabluemoon
Wow what an illusive image here beautiful shot.
bigshow
ohh! love architecture , you have a nice eye capturing those nice pictures , great work !
debbielove
I hate to see old with new buildings but, in Berlins case there's not much it can do.. Great POV once more. Rob
danapommet
A fitting remembrance for Kaiser Wilhelm I and a shame, that men fight wars, and loose so many of the architectural treasures from past times. A super capture my friend and I had no knowledge of this original church. I am now off to Google it!