[simply Dan]

To break the monotony of winter in Toronto, I spent a few days in Berlin last week, and although most of my time was spent inside bars and clubs catching up with old friends, I did manage to do a wee bit of sight seeing as well. One of the more fascinating and beautiful places of interest for me is located deep in East Berlin at Treptower Park – the Soviet War Memorial, which was completed in 1949 to commemorate the Soviet soldiers who fell during the Battle of Berlin in 1945.

Bonus: a new science museum/information centre next to the Canadian Embassy at Leipziger Platz:

 

[ganjavih]

To break the monotony of winter in Toronto...

Because Berlin in February is all sunshine and palm trees, eh?

Nice pics, Dan.

 

[simply Dan]

Meh... I had a lot more fun in Berlin than I ever would on some beach somewhere.

 

[junctionist]

Is the memorial generally empty? Soviet history doesn't have that pomo 'pop culture history' appeal that castles and royal memorials do.

 

[adma]

Soviet history doesn't have that pomo 'pop culture history' appeal that castles and royal memorials do.

Actually, in Berlin, it *does*. Only it tends to revolve more around Plattenbauten and Ampelmannchen and rusty Trabants than something as staid as war memorials.

 

[simply Dan]

Trabants don't rust - they are plastic!

 

[ganjavih]

Hey Dan, I just sent you an email about Deutschland. Could you take a look?

 

[hkskyline]

Hmm ... I thought this was it?

 

[simply Dan]

hkskyline, that is a completely different monument.

 

[Aaron]

I'd love to visit Berlin.

The red marble used in the construction of the stylized flags at the memorial in Treptower was taken from the ruins of the Reich Chancellery.

Fascinatin' stuff.