Monument to Freedom and Unity, Monument near Spree River in Berlin, Germany
This construction is a movable steel shell resting on a historic base in central Berlin, extending more than 50 meters (164 feet) in length. The platform sits on ball bearings and tilts slightly when visitors shift their weight, turning the walkable surface itself into an active part of the memorial.
The federal government decided in 2007 to build a memorial here for the peaceful revolution of 1989 and the reunification that took place the following year. Until the mid-20th century, a monument to Emperor Wilhelm stood on this spot before its removal after the Second World War.
Slogans from the Leipzig Monday protests, when tens of thousands gathered and called for change in autumn 1989, appear on the outer skin of the steel shell. Paired with photographs from those weeks, they create a walkable reminder of the peaceful revolution and the reunification that followed.
The platform can be entered from all sides and shifts slowly left or right as visitors spread across its surface. On busy days the movement becomes more noticeable, while quieter moments allow for a steadier experience.
Beneath the platform lie fragments of mosaic floors from the former monument to Emperor Wilhelm, which stood here until 1950. These pieces were preserved during construction and form an invisible link between two centuries of German history.
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