Berlin Heritage – Monuments and Commemorative Culture in the Tiergarten

Historical Journey Through Tiergarten District

Discover Berlin through a fresh lens: Military historian Dr. Evert leads you into the city’s turbulent past – from Prussian grandeur and the German Empire to the upheavals of the 20th century.

As a specialist in significant battlefields and war memorials, she provides in-depth historical insight and situates these sites within political, sociological, and contemporary contexts.

Along the way, she opens windows into the stories behind the monuments, forgotten memorials, and hidden histories of Berlin that are usually accessible only to experts – bringing the city’s history vividly to life.

Start

The meeting point is the restaurant Weltwirtschaft in the Haus der Kulturen der Welt.

The building, formerly the Congress Hall, was completed in 1957 as the American contribution to the International Building Exhibition (Interbau). Architect Hugh Stubbins described it as a “propaganda building” – a symbol of freedom of speech, Western modernity, and the avant-garde art and architecture movement of the International Style.

While enjoying a cup of coffee or tea, you will receive an introduction to the building’s history and its current role.

Soviet War Memorial in the Tiergarten

Next, Dr. Evert will take you on a walk to the nearby Soviet War Memorial. Built over the graves of thousands of Soviet soldiers, it is the only Soviet memorial in West Berlin with English inscriptions. Throughout the Cold War, the memorial was continuously guarded. Dr. Evert highlights the political provocations surrounding it, the symbolism of the weapons displayed, attacks on the ceremonial guards, and the ongoing debates in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Siegesallee

On the way to the Victory Column, you will encounter traces of the historic Siegesallee, a project commissioned by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1895 and completed in 1901. The avenue was originally lined with marble sculptures honoring Brandenburgian margraves, electors, Prussian kings, and other prominent contemporaries.

After suffering damage during World War II, the surviving figures were stored for decades and later carefully conserved. Since 2016, they have been on permanent display at the Berlin City History Museum in the Spandau Citadel, overseen by Dr. Evert.

These sculptures reflect the evolution of their meaning: once a defining feature of the cityscape, removed following political shifts, neglected for a time, later maintained, and finally made accessible to the public. Their traces tell stories of destruction, preservation, and the changing perception of German history.

Siegessäule

The Siegessäule on the Großer Stern in the Tiergarten is one of Germany’s most important national monuments and among Berlin’s most famous landmarks. It was built between 1864 and 1873 by Heinrich Strack on Königsplatz to commemorate the Wars of German Unification. During the Nazi era, it was relocated to its current site along with the monuments to Bismarck, Roon, and Moltke.

Surrounding the column are additional monuments, some of which remain the subject of public debate, including the Bismarck Memorial.

Lunch at Café am Neuen See

The experience ends with a shared lunch at Café am Neuen See, set in the serene surroundings of the Tiergarten beside the water. While enjoying hearty dishes, you can reflect on the day’s insights and immerse yourself once more in the rich and multifaceted history of Berlin.