The New Guardhouse in Berlin

type: Article , Topic: State symbols

Symbol and site of official ceremonies

Since 1993, the New Guardhouse (Neue Wache) on Unter den Linden boulevard in Berlin has been the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Victims of War and Tyranny.

Since its completion in 1818, the New Guardhouse has been the site of official ceremonies: as royal guardhouse, historical monument and central memorial. Selected examples are described in the photo gallery.

New Guardhouse Symbol and site of official ceremonies

In 1930, Prussia’s Prime Minister Otto Braun decided to convert the vacant monument into Prussia’s “Memorial site for the soldiers fallen in World War I”. The architect Heinrich Tessenow was commissioned with the conversion of the building and created a deliberately minimalist room (with a round roof opening and a head-high granite cube on which a silver oak wreath was displayed).

Interior of the New Guardhouse ca. 1931.

Source: LAB II 3968 Waldemar Titzenthaler, um 1931

Interior of the New Guardhouse ca. 1931. (Larger version opens in new window)

We wish to thank:

  • Archives of the federal state of Berlin
  • Federal Government's Press and Information Office