On Unter den Linden, Neue Wache is a memorial to the victims of war and tyranny, housed in a Neoclassical building designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Its Doric-columned exterior gives way to a spare interior, where Käthe Kollwitz’s sculpture of a mother holding her dead son stands beneath an open skylight. The rain, sun or snow can reach the sculpture. Allow a few quiet minutes to reflect, and observe silence inside. The visit is brief, but the memorial’s history and central artwork make it a meaningful stop along the boulevard.
A guardhouse designed by Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel designed Neue Wache as a guardhouse for the Crown Prince’s Palace. Built between 1816 and 1818, it was his first major architectural project. Its form draws on the Roman castrum, while the façade’s Doric columns and reliefs give the building a Neoclassical character. The frieze includes the goddess of victory, a reference to Prussia’s victory over Napoleon.
The building also served as a memorial to soldiers who died in the Napoleonic Wars. Royal guards were stationed here until the end of the First World War, after which its purpose changed. The name Neue Wache means New Guardhouse, a reminder of its original role.
From guardhouse to national memorial
Neue Wache’s commemorative purpose changed through Germany’s political history. In 1960, East German authorities converted it into a memorial to the victims of fascism. After German reunification, it became a national memorial for the victims of war and dictatorship. The inscription on the façade dedicates the building to victims of war and tyranny.
The memorial’s underground room contains the remains of an unknown soldier and a resistance fighter, as well as soil from battlefields and concentration camps. These details connect the building’s history as a military site with its present role of remembrance.
Käthe Kollwitz’s Pietà
At the centre of the interior is a copy of Käthe Kollwitz’s sculpture Mother and Her Dead Son, also known as the Pietà. The mother cradles her son’s body beneath an open skylight. Exposed to the weather, the sculpture makes the space feel stark and unprotected, and gives the memorial a focus for mourning the lives lost through war and tyranny.
The interior is intentionally spare. There is little to distract from the sculpture or the quiet of the room. Take time to look, and keep your voice low as a courtesy to others paying their respects.
Häufige Fragen
What is Neue Wache in Berlin?
Neue Wache is a memorial to the victims of war and tyranny. The building was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and first served as a royal guardhouse.
What is inside Neue Wache?
The central work is a copy of Käthe Kollwitz’s Mother and Her Dead Son, beneath an open skylight. An underground room contains the remains of an unknown soldier and a resistance fighter, along with soil from battlefields and concentration camps.
How long does a visit to Neue Wache take?
The visit is brief and can take only a few minutes. Allow extra time if you want to read about the building’s history and reflect inside.
What should I know before visiting Neue Wache?
The memorial is a quiet place of remembrance. Keep your voice low and behave respectfully inside; going early or on a weekday can make for a quieter visit.
