Set amidst the commercial buildings of the Breitscheidplatz, the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin stands as a testimony to Berlin’s war wrought past. It is also referred to as the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. Built by Kaiser Wilhelm II, in reverence of his grandfather Kaiser Wilhelm I, the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche was constructed between 1891 and 1895. Once a symbol of Prussian unity, the monument turned to be a historical landmark after the allied bombings in November 1943. The church was in a crumbling condition, but was restored to by the joint efforts of the local political party and the people.
In the year 1961, a new octagonal church was built along its side. Designed on the plans of a famous architect Egon Eiermann, this newly created landmark involved a lot of engineering skill and knowledge
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of modern technique. Some of the other renovations include a hexagonal bell tower built on the site of the old church and a rectangular building. A symbol of the post-Second World War repercussions and the urge of the people to overcome the perennial trauma of the war years, the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche is a Berlin attraction of historical importance.
Some of the other things to see in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche is the Memorial Hall that is situated below the western tower of the dilapidated structure of the old church. This particular memorial houses documents that relate to the history of the church and also display some of the exquisite artifacts that survived the bombings. Captivating the crowd with its charm and architectural grandeur, the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche is one of the most sought after Berlin tourist attractions.
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