Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The traffic is roaring, people are hurrying past, jugglers are showing off their skills on Breitscheidplatz, Kurfürstendamm is full of life ... and then a door opens, blue light shines deep and rich. Silence reigns - and suddenly the hustle and bustle of the world is far away. As soon as you enter the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Berlin is far away.

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on Breitscheidplatz is the most famous sight in City West and one of the city's most important churches - and at the same time so much more. The ensemble of the Memorial Church consists of the ruins of the church destroyed in the war and a modern church building. It is a memorial to peace and reconciliation. It is a reminder of the Berliners' will to rebuild in the post-war period and a place to pause for thought.

The history of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Wilhelm II planned a magnificent church in honour of Wilhelm I, the first German emperor. Franz Schwechten therefore built a church in the neo-Romanesque style between 1891 and 1895. With five towers, the church building was suitably monumental for the taste of the time and the emperor. The bell ringing is the second largest in Germany after Cologne. And the five bells are so loud at the opening ceremony that the wolves in the zoological garden howl along. During the Second World War, the ringing fell silent and four of the five bells were melted down for war purposes.

Did you know that LED lights in a double wall provide the blue light of the Memorial Church?

Our ABOUT BERLIN app presents the story behind Eiermann's ingenious architecture and many other exciting stories about Berlin's history.

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The new building

Bombing raids severely destroyed the church in 1943, the top of the main tower breaks off and the roof truss collapses. After the end of the war, the Allies found it difficult to rebuild it, as the church symbolised an exaggerated national pride.
The ruins reminded Berliners of the horrors of war every day.

When the church was to be completely demolished in 1956 for a new building, there was a lively protest among the population. As a compromise, the architect Egon Eiermann integrated the ruins into his new church building. The modern building was constructed between 1959 and 1961 and consisted of honeycomb-shaped concrete elements with glass blocks set into them. Inside the octagonal nave, the coloured glass blocks create an intense blue light and meditative calm. The memorial hall in the old tower is now a place of remembrance against war and destruction and a sign of reconciliation. The Coventry Nail Cross is also located here. The nails come from the charred roof beams of Coventry Cathedral, which was almost completely destroyed by a bombing raid in 1940. The crosses of nails from Coventry, which can also be found in Dresden, Hiroshima and Volgograd, are a sign of reconciliation.

Restoration of the church

Extensive restoration work on the church has been underway for years. From 2009 to 2015, the old bell tower disappeared under thick tarpaulins. This was followed by the restoration of the chapel. Further renovation work on the Eiermann buildings and a new concept for the exhibition are planned.

Worship services and concerts

• Sunday 10 am: Protestant service with celebration of the Lord's Supper
• Sunday 6pm: Evening service with different emphases 
• Every 1st Sunday of the month: Motet service
• Every 2nd Sunday of the month: Taizé service
• Every 3rd Sunday of the month: PsalmTon service (jazz music and psalm) 
• Every 4th Sunday of the month: Memorial service with communion 
• Every 5th Sunday of the month: Service of remembrance with communion 
• Friday 1 pm: "Reconciliation Prayer" from Coventry at the Cross of Nails in the 
  Memorial Hall 
• Saturday 6 pm: Organ and choir vespers or cantata services 
  (continuous performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's cantata works
• In summer, well-known jazz musicians play in the IN SPIRIT series - the summer nightly jazz experience.
   

Christmas market at the Gedächtniskirche

At Christmas time, Breitscheidplatz is home to one of Berlin's largest Christmas markets.

Guided tours through the City West

Tickets for guided tours

Get a guided tour of the City West in a small group: On the tour, you will learn exciting stories about the Kudamm and discover hidden places at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

Tickets for individual city tours

Opening hours