The Berlin Wall Memorial: A Symbol of Freedom and Democracy
25 years of remembrance honoring the fall of the Berlin Wall
April 10th, 2025
The Berlin Wall Memorial, located at the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders House, has stood for 25 years as a powerful reminder of Germany’s division and the value of democracy. Erected in March 2000, the memorial marks the path where the Berlin Wall once separated East and West Berlin, right along the Reichstag building.
The 20 concrete wall fragments are arranged along the original course of the Berlin Wall, serving as a visible marker of history. They are part of the Bundestag’s broader remembrance culture and remind visitors of the decades-long division that defined the German capital until reunification. The memorial is located precisely on the former border between East and West.
“These reminders show us that democracy and freedom cannot be taken for granted”, said Dr. hc Wolfgang Thierse, then President of the Bundestag. The decision to erect the memorial was made by the Bundestag’s Council of Elders after reunification. The fragments were preserved by Berlin artist Ben Wagin, who engraved the number of victims who died at the Wall from 1961 to 1989. These numbers represent not only those who perished at the Berlin Wall, but also throughout the broader East German border regime.
To honor the individuals behind the numbers, a memorial book is available on site, containing short biographies of the victims. These were compiled through extensive research by the Center for Contemporary History in Potsdam and the Berlin Wall Foundation. Visitors can explore these stories and reflect on the human cost of division.
The Berlin Wall Memorial and its accompanying Memorial Book are open to the public without prior registration from Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The memorial continues to serve as a place of remembrance and education about the value of freedom, unity, and democracy.
