German for Beginners #40: die Neue Wache

The video explores the history and transformation of the New Guard in Berlin, originally a royal guardhouse inaugurated in 1818. It became a memorial for war victims post-1931, with significant architectural features like a triangular roof and symbolic sculptures by Käthe Kollwitz. The memorial's design, including a central sculpture of a mother and child, powerfully symbolizes the impact of war and tyranny, highlighting themes of grief and suffering.

What was the original purpose of the New Guard building when it was inaugurated in 1818?

• A royal residence

• A guardhouse for the king's guard

• A museum

• A public library

In what year did the New Guard become a memorial for the victims of war and tyranny?

• 1931

• 1955

• 1818

• 1993

What do the sculptures on the left and right of the New Guard entrance represent?

• The unity of nations

• The victims of war and tyranny

• The triumph of war

• The power of the monarchy

Who created the sculpture of the mother with her deceased son inside the memorial?

• Pablo Picasso

• Auguste Rodin

• Käthe Kollwitz

• Michelangelo

What unique feature of the memorial's roof contributes to its symbolic meaning?

• It is painted with murals

• It is covered with solar panels

• It has a round hole that lets rain fall only on the sculpture

• It is made of glass