Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche facts for kids
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (also known as Gedächtniskirche in German) is a famous church in Berlin, Germany. It's a special place that reminds people about peace and forgiveness. It belongs to the Protestant Evangelical Church in Germany.
You can find this church in the Breitscheidplatz square, right at the end of the well-known Kurfürstendamm street.
Contents
The Old Church: A Memorial to an Emperor
The original church was built a long time ago, between 1891 and 1895. It was designed by an architect named Franz Schwechten.
Why Was the Old Church Built?
Emperor Wilhelm II ordered the church to be built. He wanted it to honor his grandfather, Emperor Wilhelm I. The church was designed in a style called neo-Romanesque, which looked like many old churches in the Rhineland area of Germany, such as Bonn Minster.
Inside the old church, there were beautiful mosaics that showed important moments from Emperor Wilhelm I's life and work.
Destruction During World War II
Sadly, during World War II, the church was badly damaged. It was hit during a bombing raid by the British RAF in 1943.
After the bombing, most of the old church was destroyed. The only part that remained was the ruin of its tall bell tower. People in Berlin often call this ruined tower der Hohle Zahn, which means "the hollow tooth," because of its appearance.
The New Church: A Symbol of Peace
After the war, a new church was built right next to the old ruined tower. Construction started in 1951 and finished in 1961. The new church was designed by an architect named Egon Eiermann.
A Message of Forgiveness
The new church holds several special symbols of peace and friendship between countries that were once at war.
- The Coventry Cross: Inside the new church, there is a cross made from nails taken from the old Coventry Cathedral in England. This cathedral was also destroyed by German bombs during the Coventry Blitz in World War II.
- Consecration Day: The new Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was officially opened on May 25, 1962. This was the same day that the new Coventry Cathedral was also opened. Both churches were built next to their old ruins, which were kept as reminders of the terrible effects of war.
- Other Symbols: Besides the Coventry cross, the Gedächtniskirche also has a cross from the Russian Orthodox Church. There's also a special drawing known as the Stalingrad Madonna. This drawing was made by a German soldier, Lieutenant Kurt Reuber, in December 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad (which is now Volgograd, Russia). These symbols represent peace and friendship between Germany, Britain, and Russia, who were once enemies.
Efforts to Preserve the Church
In December 2007, a former British pilot named Charles Jeffrey Gray, who had flown bombing missions over Germany during World War II, joined a campaign to help save the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church from falling apart. He contacted the church's board to ask for the tower to be repaired. A special fund was started to help raise money for the restoration work.
Images for kids
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The ceiling inside the new church
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Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church around 1900
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Related pages
- Battle of Berlin (air)
- RAF Bomber Command
- Bombing of Berlin in World War II
- Coventry Blitz
