The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (King Wilhelm Memorial Church) is one of Berlin's most moving monuments. Located in Breitscheidplatz, in the heart of the former West Berlin's commercial center, it serves as a memorial against war and destruction.
History and architecture: the complex is composed of two main elements that create a striking visual contrast between the past and the present:
- The Ruin (Gedächtniskirche): built in 1895 in the Neo-Romanesque style to honor Emperor Wilhelm I. It was almost destroyed in an Allied bombing raid in 1943. After the war, it was decided not to fully rebuild it, but to preserve it as an "open wound" to remember the horrors of the conflict. Its broken top gave it the nickname "Hollow Tooth" (Hohler Zahn).
- The New Church (1961): designed by architect Egon Eiermann, it consists of a new octagonal hall and a separate bell tower, made of concrete and steel trusses.
What to see inside:
- The Memorial Hall (Gedenkhalle): located at the base of the ruined tower, it houses rescued original mosaics, reliefs, and the history of the church. A highlight is the Coventry Cross, made with nails recovered from the ruins of the English cathedral of Coventry, destroyed by the Nazis, as a symbol of reconciliation.
- The Blue Light of the New Church: the interior of the new chapel is composed of more than 20,000 hand-blown blue glass panels from Chartres (France). In 2026, it remains one of the quietest and most spiritually impactful spaces in the city.
The Madonna of Stalingrad: a charcoal drawing made by a German doctor during the Battle of Stalingrad at Christmas 1942, which became a symbol of hope and peace.
Opening
- Church (New): daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- Memorial Hall (Ruin): daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Services: held on Sundays at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Tickets
Free entry.
Address
Breitscheidplatz
U2/U9/S5/S7/S9/S75 Zoologischer Garten Station
