HARTAIXX2016-V013800

Summary

The script discusses a significant site in Berlin, once the heart of division by the Berlin Wall from 1963 to 1989. Now a 17-acre wasteland, it's set to become a memorial, rising from the earth with 2711 concrete blocks of varying sizes, representing the site's deep historical significance without holding bodies. The area, previously a Nazi command center and linked to Hitler's bunker, is now a field of sobering grey blocks, symbolizing the complex and contradictory memories of Berlin's past.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The site is located in the heart of Berlin, with a rich and complex history.
• 🧱 From 1963 to 1989, the site was occupied by the Berlin Wall, separating East and West Berlin.
• 🌳 The site to the north is bordered by the Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden, a main boulevard leading to Berlin's cultural heart.
• 🏙️ To the south is Potsdamer Platz, which was once the main commercial center of Berlin before the Berlin Wall was erected.
• 🌾 After the Berlin Wall fell, the site was left as a 17-acre wasteland with remnants of pavement and nature reclaiming the area.
• 🕍 The site was the command center of the National Socialist Party during the Nazi occupation, deeply associated with the Holocaust.
• 💣 It is rumored that Hitler's bunker, where he committed suicide, is buried on the site with no entrance.
• 🗿 The memorial consists of 2711 concrete blocks that emerge from the ground, symbolizing the history and memories of the site.
• 🔢 The number of blocks, 2711, does not represent a specific date or the number of victims; it is purely arbitrary.
• 📏 Each block varies in size, ranging from almost bench height to over 13 feet tall, adding a sense of randomness to the memorial.
• 🧭 The blocks are tilted at varying angles, with some reaching almost half a degree, contributing to the dynamic feel of the memorial.

Q & A

What is the significance of the site mentioned in the script?

The site is significant as it was once occupied by the Berlin Wall from 1963 to 1989, separating Eastern and Western Berlin. It is also historically important due to its association with the National Socialist Party and the Holocaust during the Nazi occupation.

What is the location of the site in relation to other landmarks in Berlin?

The site is centrally located in Berlin, with the Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden to the north, and Potsdamer Platz to the south, both of which are key cultural and commercial areas of the city.

What was the state of the site after the Berlin Wall came down?

After the Berlin Wall fell, the site was left as a 17-acre wasteland with grass, weeds, remnants of pavement, and some ghostly presence, devoid of its former structures.

What is the reported presence beneath the site?

It is reported that there is a bunker buried beneath the site, which is believed to be the place where Adolf Hitler committed suicide.

Can you describe the memorial that emerged from this site?

The memorial consists of 2711 concrete blocks that appear to emerge from the earth, creating a sober grey field with blocks of varying heights and sizes, ranging from almost bench-like to over 13 feet in height.

What is the significance of the number 2711 in the memorial?

The number 2711 does not signify any specific historical event or number of victims; it is purely random and is meant to represent the vastness and the individuality of the loss.

How do the blocks in the memorial vary?

The blocks vary in height from very low to over 13 feet, and they also tilt at different angles, some up to almost half a degree, giving the field a sense of randomness and individuality.

What is the intended purpose of the memorial?

The memorial is not a cemetery or a mausoleum; it is an 'in earth field of blocks' designed to evoke reflection and remembrance without literally holding bodies.

What historical period does the site's past include?

The site's past includes the Nazi occupation of Berlin, during which it served as the command center of the National Socialist Party and the Holocaust.

How does the memorial address the history and memories associated with the site?

The memorial addresses the history and memories by creating a space that is deeply rooted in the site's history, using the blocks to symbolize the weight of the past without being a literal representation of it.

What is the relationship between the size of the blocks and any symbolic meaning?

While there might be an association with a crypt or a coffin due to the size of the blocks, it is emphasized that the size is random and does not carry a specific symbolic meaning related to the number of victims or events.