Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis New Church
One of the most famous landmarks in Berlin is the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtnis New Church. The church is situated at the Breitscheidplatz, the commercial center of Berlin. After an allied bombing in 1943, the original church was all but destroyed. The only part of the church left standing was the broken west tower. The structure was set for demolition in the 1950's. However, local opposition managed to save the ruins and in 1961, a new church was erected. The new Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtnis Church was designed by Franz Schwechten. At the site of the destroyed church, a freestanding hexagonal bell tower now sits. The church is reinforced with concrete and features blue-colored bricks. It also boasts a small rectangular building as part of the new structure. Lastly, a memorial hall sits below the west tower of the destroyed church. This Gedenkhalle houses original items from the old church, including some of the mosaic decorations and reliefs. It also features photographs of the old structure from before and after its demise. The damaged tower itself serves as a symbol of Berlin's resolve to rebuild the city after the war. The tower is also a daily reminder of war and its destruction.
