"The Brandenburg Gate: In 1945 and 2005"
The Brandenburg Gate, Pariser Platz, Berlin, Germany
Lindsey Thoreson '06
Centre for Medievel and Renaissance Studies (CMRS)
Visitors to Berlin view a giant photograph of the Brandenburg Gate and its surroundings in ruins after suffering heavy bombing during WWII, set against the backdrop of the newly restored Gate. Though it suffered extensive damage, the Gate itself remained the only structure left standing in the ruins of Pariser Plats in 1945. It was originally commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II to represent peace. Ironically, it was both used by the Nazi part to demonstrate its power during WWII and incorporated into the guard tower system over the Berlin Wall during the Cold War, two of the most violent periods in German history. Newly restored, this landmark, which once served as a symbol of violence, oppression, and division, now stands as a symbol of the reunification of the two sides of this great city and of national pride for the people of Germany.
