Visiting the Bombed Out Church, a Close Up Look at the Damages of War

 


Germany was experiencing unprecedented hot temperatures during our visit to Berlin.

We were glad that we moved to the Bristol Hotel, Berlin

Moving over to our new hotel with air conditioning was a good decision as it helped us to get a good night rest.  In fact we slept so well that we got up at 11am, a little earlier than the day before when we had a difficult time sleeping in the other hot hotel room.

I have been following a strict diet. Fortunately, it was not too bad finding restaurants offering what I could eat in Berlin.

We went to have lunch in the area. While my family enjoyed some donner sandwiches again, I was able to stick to my special diet.

A bombed out church - a famous landmark in Berlin 

We bought a day pass, went to see the bombed out church, the Kaise Wilhelm Memorial Church, in the area.
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The church was bombed  and almost completely destroyed by the air raids of 1945 during World War II.

However, it is the only building in the area's square that was spared by the bombing and deliberately preserved as a ruin.

The church was built in memory of the first German Emperor

The Gedachtniskirche or Kaise Wilhelm Memorial Church was built in 1891 in memory of the first German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm 1.

Gendenkhalle - the Memorial Hall with photo exhibits

Though much of the church building is gone, the Gendekhalle(the Memorial Hall) was rebuilt and renovated.

The church before the bombing.

At the Memorial Hall, we saw a display of pictures and exhibits of the Church and the surrounding area before and after the War. 

Kaise Wilhelm Memorial Church after the WW ll bombing, Berlin, Germany

Rather than rebuilding the bombed out church or renovating it to its former glory, the German people built a brand new different church right beside the old one.

We went to visit the new church.

We were wowed by the contrast of the two churches.

The new church is such a contrast to the old one.

The new church is modern, beautiful, and spacious. I imagine it can be also used for multi purposes and other uses besides holding Sunday Services.


We were glad we visited the bombed out church. It was different from other things we have seen before.



R.T.
Berlin, Germany