Berlin Day 19 (3 August)
A bit of history, lots of walking and a bit of shopping. Visited the "Memorial to German Resistance" Museum. Fairly self-explanatory name - a memorial to those who resisted Hitler and his cohorts. Very detailed 2 floors on the various plots to kill Hitler (all of which failed for some reason) and the people who hid or otherwise helped the Jews in Germany. The Museum is located in part of the "Bendler Block". The Bendler Block is a series of historic buildings used by the military until 1945. Pretty austere looking. It was where Hitler gave his speech in 1933 on "Lebensraum (living space) in the east"and was where there was an attempt to overthrow the National Socialist regime in July 1944 - i.e. a failed plot to kill Hitler with a bomb. The main conspirators of that plot were shot in the courtyard.
There were a few attempts to kill him. I thought one of the most moving was an individual who they now know acted on his own and attempted to blow up Hitler back in 1939 - George Elser. Unfortunately the bomb went off too late - Hitler had left the building and George ended up being executed but not until 1945.
Also Stephen found more stumbling stones on our way there! Interesting but in Germany anyone who was killed by the Nazis is said to have been 'murdered'. No messing around with the description. Also found one of our stumbling stones people in the Museum - Berhard Lichtenberg. Catholic priest who took a public stand against persecution of the Jews. Died on his way to Dachau. Glad to see some Catholic clergy did the right thing. The Museum also included a photo of some senior Catholic clergy giving the Hitler salute. A lot of stories about individuals who helped the Jews and how some Jews survived - falsified documentation, hiding in the countryside etc. Stephen even found a Lipmann on a wall of names of people presumably who stood up against Hitler and his party.
Very very detailed museum. We were exhausted by the end and abandoned plans for another museum today. Headed for the "Mall of Berlin". (A not very clever take on the "Wall of Berlin"- as it is on Potsdamer Platz where the Wall went through). Actually looking for a sandwich and place to sit down. Found both.
Have seen many slabs of the wall. Saw one just now outside an Italian restaurant on our walk back. Starting to get a bit suspicious that could end up like genuine pieces of the cross. If you put all the wall pieces together they could encircle Berlin twice over.
There were a few attempts to kill him. I thought one of the most moving was an individual who they now know acted on his own and attempted to blow up Hitler back in 1939 - George Elser. Unfortunately the bomb went off too late - Hitler had left the building and George ended up being executed but not until 1945.
Also Stephen found more stumbling stones on our way there! Interesting but in Germany anyone who was killed by the Nazis is said to have been 'murdered'. No messing around with the description. Also found one of our stumbling stones people in the Museum - Berhard Lichtenberg. Catholic priest who took a public stand against persecution of the Jews. Died on his way to Dachau. Glad to see some Catholic clergy did the right thing. The Museum also included a photo of some senior Catholic clergy giving the Hitler salute. A lot of stories about individuals who helped the Jews and how some Jews survived - falsified documentation, hiding in the countryside etc. Stephen even found a Lipmann on a wall of names of people presumably who stood up against Hitler and his party.
Very very detailed museum. We were exhausted by the end and abandoned plans for another museum today. Headed for the "Mall of Berlin". (A not very clever take on the "Wall of Berlin"- as it is on Potsdamer Platz where the Wall went through). Actually looking for a sandwich and place to sit down. Found both.
Have seen many slabs of the wall. Saw one just now outside an Italian restaurant on our walk back. Starting to get a bit suspicious that could end up like genuine pieces of the cross. If you put all the wall pieces together they could encircle Berlin twice over.
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