White Crosses, Memorial monument near Reichstag, Germany
The White Crosses are seven stone crosses standing along the Spree riverbank beside the Reichstag and bearing the names of 13 people. Information is inscribed on both sides of each cross, providing details about those who died at this location.
The memorial was erected in 1971 to commemorate those who died attempting to cross the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. It was built while the city remained divided by the wall and documents the human tragedies of that period.
The crosses serve as a reminder of Berlin's division and honor people who died seeking freedom between East and West Germany. They shape the memorial landscape along the river and show how this boundary divided everyday life.
The memorial is located at Reichstagsufer in Berlin-Mitte and is fully accessible by wheelchair, allowing all visitors to view it. Information panels at the site explain the historical context and help visitors understand the significance of the memorial.
One of the seven crosses is specifically dedicated to remembering all unknown victims of the Berlin Wall whose names were lost. This cross stands apart because it honors not individual named people, but all those forgotten whose lives were also taken.
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