The first, which was next to the only remaining section of the Berlin Wall, was the Topography of Terror
Between 1933 and 1945, the central institutions responsible for the repressive and criminal policies of National Socialism were located on the terrain of the Topography of Terror, situated between Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse (today Niederkirchnerstrasse), Wilhelmstrasse and Anhalter Strasse. Here, in close proximity to the traditional government district, the Secret State Police, the SS leadership and the Reich Security Main Office set up their offices: the administrative headquarters of the Secret State Police and the notorious Gestapo “house prison” were located at Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse 8; the neighbouring Hotel Prinz Albrecht housed the offices of the SS Reich leadership; and the Security Service (SD) of the SS Reich leadership was established at Wilhelmstrasse 102. As of 1939, Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse 8 was also the address of the newly founded Reich Security Main Office.
On a grey over cast day walking around the open-air exhibit which included descriptions of how the political prisoners were cruelly treated and killed and the various failed attempts on Hitler’s life, it was not difficult to begin to imagine how terrible those times were.
The second exhibit was the Kathe Kollwitz Museum. Here is an artist who knew what art was for: to speak out against suffering, poverty, death, hunger and war. Such art can be maudlin or trivial but with Kathe Kollwitz the spirit of our humanity is moved, outraged and empowered. Such is the power of great art.
