Neue Wache: Germany's Central Memorial to the Victims of War and Tyranny

Updated on October 9, 2026

The Neue Wache ("new guardhouse"), on the Unter den Linden avenue, is the central memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany to the victims of war and tyranny. Karl Friedrich Schinkel's neoclassical building, constructed from 1816 to 1818, has housed a single sculpture since 1993, Käthe Kollwitz's "Mother with Her Dead Son". Admission is free, daily from 10am to 6pm, and access is step-free. Allow 15 to 20 minutes: it is a place of remembrance, where people speak softly.

Highlights

Schinkel's facade

A portico of Doric columns recalls an ancient temple; the building first served as a guardhouse for the royal guard. Largely destroyed in the war, it was rebuilt in 1960 by East Germany as a memorial to the victims of fascism and militarism.

Käthe Kollwitz's Pietà

The sculpture, enlarged from one of the artist's works, shows a mother holding her dead son. Käthe Kollwitz lost her son Peter in the war in 1914. The work stands beneath a round opening (the oculus) in the ceiling: rain, snow and light enter the room, which gives it its atmosphere.

A bare room

The room is empty, with no benches or decoration, and an inscription recalls the dedication "To the victims of war and tyranny". The 1993 controversy over the choice of sculpture is part of the place's history.

Practical info

Tips

Go in quietly, without flash or noisy groups; photos are tolerated but be discreet. The visit combines easily with the neighbouring Zeughaus, Bebelplatz and Unter den Linden. Also read: Berlin and the Second World War and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

How to get there

Unter den Linden, 10117 Berlin (Mitte). U-Bahn U5: Museumsinsel station, about 5 minutes on foot; U5 and U6: Unter den Linden station, about 10 minutes. Bus 100: Staatsoper / Unter den Linden stop. Tickets and lines: our guide to getting around Berlin.