Memorial for Jan Palach and Jan Zajic

Jan Palach was a Czech university student who poured petroleum over himself and burned himself to death on January 16, 1969.  He committed this act in protest of the Soviet occupation of his country.  Jan Zajic was another Czech student who also burned himself in almost the same exact spot roughly a month after Jan Palach did so.

The memorial itself lies a short distance from the fountain in Wenceslas Square in Prague.  It was created by artist Barbora Vesela, and built by architects Cestmir Houska and Jiri Vesely.  The memorial has a cross-shaped form that is basically imbedded in the grounds at Wenceslas Square.  The curved shape of the cross brings parts of the memorial upward from the flat ground surface.  It was designed that way to make it look as if it has melted into the pavement.  The cross faces the spot where Jan Palach fell to the ground after setting himself on fire.  The left branch of the cross has the names of the two students and their respective dates on it.

The Memorial in January

The reason a cross was chosen to be the symbol for this memorial is that "sacrifice has always been associated with the symbol of a cross." In addition to that, throughout Christian tradition, the cross has brought redemption to followers.  It is not uncommon for the memorial to be surrounded by flowers, especially in January around the time when both of these tragic events took place.

Left Branch - Names and Dates

In addition to this bronze cross memorial, there are also several other memorials to Palach and Zajic in cities throughout Europe.

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I believe that this memorial is an example of sanctification.  According the the Lonely Planet website, the date of Jan Palach's death (January 16) is now commemorated annually.  Not only is this date recognized every year, but the memorial itself was placed in the middle of Wenceslas Square.  If this had not been deemed a sanctified place or event, nobody would have allowed for a memorial to be placed within the pavement of such an important part of the city.

Sources:

Category. "Memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zajic." Eastern Europe Travel. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

"Jan Palach memorial  | Visiting Prague." Visiting Prague. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

"Jan Palach Memorial in Prague, Czech Republic - Lonely Planet." Lonely Planet Travel Guides and Travel Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

"Prague: The Jan Palach Memorial - TripAdvisor." Reviews of Hotels, Flights and Vacation Rentals - TripAdvisor. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

The Schindler Factory and Museum, Krakow

Oskar Schindler arrived in Krakow, Poland shortly after the German invasion in September of 1939.  He was a member of the Nazi party as well as the German military intelligence group.  He gained control over an enamel kitchenware factory in which he oversaw Jewish workers.  Initially, his main concern was to make a profit and be successful.  He certainly met this goal with the use of cheap (Jewish) labor.  Once he saw the extent of the brutality the Nazis demonstrated against the Jews, he became much more concerned with saving lives than making money. Overall, he saved more than 1,200 Jewish lives, and he did so by exempting them from being deported to concentration camps by saying they were essential to the success of his factory – which was in turn essential to the success of the German war effort.

Oskar Schindler

The Schindler Museum is located at 4 Lipowa Street, and is operated by the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow. An article from the LA Times states, “What impressed me is the exhibits’ ability to provoke emotional reaction besides intellectual stimulation.”  The exhibits throughout the museum follow a chronological order beginning during the period between the two World Wars.  The largest portion of the museum is dedicated to Oskar Schindler, his factory, and his Jewish workforce.  This main exhibit is titled, “Krakow under Nazi Occupation 1939-1945.”  The next exhibits feature the German invasion of Krakow in 1939, and also the Soviet capture of Krakow post World War II.  The exhibits give the impression of the hard times the city faced under occupation – especially the Jews.  Some exhibits are temporary, and various movies and lectures are held in a screening room.  

Sources: 

"Oskar Schindler Factory Krakow." Oskar Schindler Factory Krakow. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

"JewishKrakow.net - Oscar Schindler's Factory." JewishKrakow.net -Welcome to Kazimierz!  . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

"Kazimierz - Jewish Quarter | Sightseeing and Sights in Krakow." Hotels, Hostels, Sights, Shops, Culture, Events and Restaurant in Krakow. Interactive map of Krakow. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

"Oskar Schindler, Rescuer of Jews." Oskar Schindler, Rescuer of Jews. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

"Schindler's Factory in Krakow | Museum of Wartime Krakow | Oskar   Schindler's Museum." Krakow info | Krakow in Poland | Cracow. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

Dohany Street Synagogue, Budapest

Otherwise known as the "Great Synagogue," the Dohany Street Synagogue in Budapest, Hungary is the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest synagogue in the world.  It holds upwards of 3,000 people.  The Dohany Street Synagogue was built between 1854 and 1859.  It is designed like a basilica and includes architectural elements from the Byzantine and Moorish styles.  It is home to 25 torah (Jewish Bible) scrolls, which were taken from synagogues that were destroyed during the Holocaust.

Between the two World Wars, anti-Semitisim became popular in the Central European region.  Hungry became an ally of Germany and the Arrow Cross Party became more popular throughout the country.  As a result, the Dohany Street Synagogue was damaged in 1939 by the fascist Arrow Cross Party in Hungary.

Interior of the synagogue

There are many parts of the whole synagogue, one of which is the Jewish Museum. The Jewish Museum contains exhibits about Jewish traditions and history - particularly Hungarian Jewish history - as well as World War II information about the Holocaust.  The Heroes' Temple was added to the Dohany Street Synagogue in 1931.  It's a memorial to the Hungarian Jews who fought and died in World War I.  The Jewish Cemetery is located behind the Heroes' Temple.  The majority of those buried in the cemetery are Jews who died in the Jewish ghetto during the winter of 1944-45.  Also in the back courtyard where the cemetery is located is a piece of the original brick wall of the ghetto.

Holocaust Memorial "Emanuel Tree"

The Raul Wallenberg Memorial Park is located directly behind the Dohany Street Synagogue.  This park is home to the Holocaust Memorial, also known as the "Emanuel Tree".  The Holocaust Memorial is a weeping willow tree that has the names of Hungarian Jews murdered during World War II and the Holocaust on the leaves.  It also contains plaques with the names of non-Jewish Hungarians who saved Jews during the Holocaust.


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Sources:

Category. "Great Synagogue Budapest - Dohany Street Synagogue." Budapest - Budapest Travel Guide and Information - Budapest, an Insider's Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

Mosaics, zantine. "Dohány Street Synagogue - Budapest, Hungary." Sacred Sites and Religious Travel - Sacred Destinations. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

Samsa, Gregor. "Dohány Street Synagogue | Flickr - Photo Sharing!." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

"Tree of Life | Jewish Folk Songs." Jewish Folksongs - Jewish Songs of the Diaspora. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2013. .

Gasometer City, Vienna

Originally, the Gasometers provided the city of Vienna with its coal gas supply.  Eventually, natural gas replaced the use of coal gas, which resulted in the Gasometers becoming basically pointless.  In 1984 the gas tanks were shut down for good, and stood vacant for a number of years.  The Gasometers were used for various purposes before they were reinvented in/around 2001.  One of the most well-known purposes of the Gasometers was as a set for the James Bond Movie, The Living Daylights.  In 2001, when they were reinvented, a set of four architects were given the opportunity to renovate one of the four Gasometers (titled A, B, C, and D).  Today, Gasometer City even has its own U-Bahn station.

Gasometer A: Architect Jean Nouvel was assigned to this Gasometer.  He made it into an indoor plaza with huge windows and a transparent dome that allows an amazing amount of light into the structure.

Indoor gardens

Gasometer B: Coop Himmelb(l)au was given the opportunity to reinvent Gasometer B.  Today the Gasometer holds 360 apartments as well as offices.  There is even a "sky-lobby" on the 6th floor where students and other residents of the building interact in the social/common space.  Another neat thing that Coop Himmelb(l)au did was to add a 22-story building to the outside of the gasometer.  The building has a bending shape.  Inside there is a concert hall (which seats up to 3,500), a student hostel, health facilities, more apartments, and also a shopping mall.

Gasometer B and the added building

Gasometer C: Architect Manfred Wehdorn turned this Gasometer into an eco-friendly apartment building that has a variety of indoor gardens that add to the "greenness" of the building.

Gasometer D: Whilelm Holzbauer originally wanted to reinvent this Gasometer into a hotel, but the plan was rejected.  It ended up as another apartment building which also contains indoor gardens.

Sources:

"Gasometer City, Vienna." Vienna Direct - Austria's capital from an independent view. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. .

"Industrial Renovation: The Gasometers of Vienna     «TwistedSifter." TwistedSifter. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. .

"The Architecture of the Gasometers." Die Gasometer in Wien. Konzerte, Tickets, Führungen, Programm, Pop Akademie, Musikschule mit Wohnungen und Studentenwohnheim im revitalisiertem Gasbehälter Gaswerk. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. .

"Vienna’s Repurposed Gas Tank City  - 1-800-RECYCLING." Find Recycling Locations, Green Living Tips and More - 1-800-Recycling. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. .

Wachau Valley Vineyards, Vienna

Austrian wines are among some of the best in the world.  Today, Austria is home to more than 50,000 hectares of vineyards.  There are thousands of wine producers in Austria, most of which are located in the eastern parts of the country.  A couple of the most popular wines produced in Austria include the Rieslings, Gruner Veltliners and Sauvignon Blancs.

The Wachau Valley runs along a part of the Danube River near Vienna, between the towns of Krems and Melk.  The town of Krems has a wine culture that is more than evident.  There is a variety of old harvest estates, younger wine-growers, a wine co-operative, and even a wine school.  Krems is also home to the annual Niederosterreich Wine Fair.  Wines from the Wachau Valley are classified into three categories. The first is steinfeder, and these wines are light and racy.  The federspiel wines are considered "elegant with body," and finally the smaragd wines are ripe and powerful.

Two of the main wineries in the Valley are as follows:
1.) Singerriedel Riesling Vineyard: This vineyard is owned and operated by Weingut Franz Hirtzberger.  The slopes at this vineyard are too steep and rocky for tractors to do the harvesting, and so all harvesting is still done by hand.  Although some may think that having a vineyard on such terrain would be harder to maintain and would result in lower-quality wines, this is not the case.  The stones reflect more light onto the vines, and steep slopes allow more natural sunlight to reach them, both allowing the grapes at the Singerriedel Riesling Vineyard to thrive.  Some of the best wines produced at this vineyard are the Rieslings, the Gruner Veltliners, and the Weissburgunders.
2.) Nikolaihof Winery: The Nikolaihof Winery is the oldest in all of Austria.  It has been around for nearly 2,000 years, and dates back to the times of the Romans.  It is operated by the Saahs family.  The wines at this vineyard are produced organically, which is somewhat uncommon.  No herbicides, pesticides, or artificial fertilizers are used at the Nikolaihof Winery.  Some of their best wines include their Griner Veltliners, their Rieslings, and their Trockenbeerenausleses.

Sources:

" A Day on the Danube: Exploring one of Europe’s Mighty Rivers and the Wachau Valley | Wanderbliss  Wanderbliss | I came, I saw, I wandered.. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. .."

fields, activating theses, and can be used. "Vineyards along the Danube in Austria." Vacation in Austria: Travel Information of the Austrian Tourist Office. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. .

"wineandleisure.com. Austrian wines of the Wachau." Wine and Leisure - the Wine Baron on wine regions and their best wines. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. .

The Charles Bridge, Prague

The Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic links the "Lesser Town" to the "Old Town" - and for many centuries it was the only possible way to go between the two sides of town.  The bridge was first built in 1357, and was known initially as the "Prague Bridge" or the "Stone Bridge".  It was renamed "Charles Bridge" after King Charles IV in 1870.

Before the Charles Bridge was built, there was another bridge that connected the two sides of town.  This bridge was called the Judith Bridge, and was built in 1172.  Unfortunately it collapsed in a flood in 1342.  It is said that the builders of the Charles Bridge added egg yolks to the mortar in order to strengthen the bridge.  Seeing as how the bridge is still standing after surviving countless floods, the egg yolks may have been a good idea.


Throughout most of its history - until 1950 to be exact - the bridge had not been pedestrianized.  It had been used for tram and car traffic previously.

The Charles Bridge has also played a vital role in protecting Prague throughout history.  Both the invading Swedes and Prussians were defeated at the bridge in 1648 and 1744 respectively.

St. John of Nepomuk

Originally there were no statues along the bridge.  In 1683 the first statue was added - a statue of St. John of Nepomuk.  St. John of Nepomuk was once the archbishop, and had been tortured to death and thrown off the Charles Bridge during the reign of Wenceslas IV.  Touching this statue is said to bring you good luck and ensure your return to Prague.

Early in the 18th century over 20 more statues were added to the bridge, and today many more line the bridge.  Most of the statues are in the Baroque art style.  Many of the original statues were made of sandstone, and therefore were badly damaged by the elements (some were even swept away during floods) and have been replaced by copies.  At each end of the bridge are bridge towers that were historically used to guard the entrances to the bridge.

Today the bridge is filled with souvenir vendors, street artists, musicians, and tourists.  It is deemed a "must-see" part of Prague by many sources.


Sources:

"  Photo Gallery : Inaresort."  Inaresort. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2013. .

"Charles Bridge in Prague." Prague Tourist Information and Travel Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2013. .

"Charles Bridge, Prague." A View On Cities. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2013. .

"Charles Bridge, Prague." My Czech Republic - Czech travel, culture, community. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2013. .

"Karlův Most: Charles Bridge | Czech Me Out." Czech Me Out | Learn a thing or two about Prague. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2013. .

Dresdner Zwinger - "Zwinger Palace"

Building of the Zwinger Palace began in 1710, and was finished in 1728.  The grounds of the royal palace include many museums, beautiful gardens, pavilions, and fountains.  It was originally built by architect Matthaus Daniel Poppelmann in the Baroque style.  The Palace was built for Augustus the Strong, who wanted it to rival Louis XIV's Versailles. Zwinger Palace was unfortunately destroyed in the fire bombings in 1945, but was restored to its original form.  

Zwinger Palace

The large inner courtyard was used for court festivities, tournaments, and fireworks.  There are six pavilions connected by galleries throughout the grounds of the Palace.  One of the most famous parts of the Palace is the Glockenspiel.  It became a part of Zwinger Palace in 1933, and after the bombing took 20 years to reconstruct.  The melodies played by the clock at each quarter hour change with the seasons.  

Nymphenbad

Some of the museums are as follows: 

1.  Galerie Alte Meister: The picture gallery, otherwise known as the "Old Masters Gallery" houses pieces by famous artists such as Titian, Raphael, and Rubens.  

2.  Rustkammer:  The historical museum is home a collection of 15th to 18th century war instruments.  Some of these weapons include those used by the Saxons. 

3.  Porzellansammlung: This museum contains a collection of fine porcelain pieces

4. Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon: The "mathematics-physics salon" has exhibits showing off clocks, sextants, globes, and other pieces of scientific equipment.  

Crown Gate

The Crown Gate is topped with a large crown that is decorated with gilded motifs.  The statues within the niches of the gate are representative of the four seasons.  The Nymphenbad is a closed courtyard.  Within the Nymphenbad is a large fountain which is decorated with mythical sea gods, tritons, and other legendary sea creatures.  

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Sources: 

Dunford, Lisa. Central Europe. 9th ed. Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet, 2011. Print.

"Zwinger Palace - Dresden's Exquisite Royal Residence." Germany And Its Cities Are Unique And Vibrant -- It's Time To Visit Them!. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. .

"Zwinger Palace, Dresden, Germany (trip idea) includes: dresden, zwinger, baroque, saxony...." TripIdeas.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. .

"Zwinger, Dresden." A View On Cities. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. .

Kristallnacht - "Night of Broken Glass"

On the night spanning November 9th and 10th, 1938, there was a wave of anti-Jewish pogroms (attacks or riots) across Germany, Austria, and other neighboring countries. These pogroms were put into action by the Nazi Party in Germany.  The name "Kristallnacht" was coined due to all of the shattered glass on the streets from broken windows of Jewish synagogues, homes, and businesses.  267 synagogues were destroyed and burned to the ground.  Local fire fighters were ordered to only keep the fires from spreading to other buildings, not to put the fires out.  Roughly 7,000 Jewish businesses were vandalized and looted.

The Nazi Party claimed that what happened on the Kristallnacht was a spontaneous outburst by the non-Jewish public in response to a 17-year-old Jew shooting and killing German embassy official, Ernst vorn Rath.  What happened on that night, however, was anything but a spontaneous act by the public.  Hitler Youth units dressed as civilians to take part in these riots and had very specific directions.    No risks were to be taken if there was a possibility of harming non-Jewish property.  No foreigners were to be subject to the violence.  All synagogue archives were to be removed and brought to the custody of the Security Service prior to the units vandalizing and burning the buildings.  Policemen were to arrest as many Jews as possible - primarily healthy young men.

Nearly 100 Jews were killed and nearly 30,000 male Jews were arrested that night, and most of them were transferred straight from jail to concentration camps.  The Kristallnacht was the first time that Nazi officials ordered the arrest of Jews solely because of their heritage.

After the Kristallnacht, the Nazi Party claimed that the events of that night were at the fault of hte Jews themselves, and therefore did not allow them to claim insurance to cover the costs of their destroyed businesses, homes, and synagogues.  This was the start of many anti-Jewish laws that took away basically any rights they had.  Throughout the following weeks, months, and years, the Nazi Party in Germany became far more radical in its action against Jews.

Sources:

Category. "Opinio Juris  » Blog Archive   » Kristallnacht Remembered." Opinio Juris  . N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. .

"Kristallnacht: A Nationwide Pogrom, November 9–10, 1938." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. .

"The American Experience.America and the Holocaust.People & Events | "Kristallnacht" | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. .

"kristallnacht | WW2 Resource." WW2 Resource | History online.. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. .

The Berlin Wall

After World War II, it was decided that Germany would be divided into four sectors.  The eastern part of the country would be under occupation of the Soviet Union.  The western half of the country would be divided among the United States, Great Britain, and France.  Even though Berlin technically was located within the boundaries of the Soviet Union's zone, it was decided that the city would also be split into sectors similar to the way the rest of the country was divided.  The occupation of Germany began in June of 1945.

Berlin Wall 1961

The Soviet Union was not particularly pleased with the western Allies holding a part of the eastern half of the country, and so they began to devise a plan to drive them out.  In 1948 the Soviet Union blocked West Berlin from any outside help in an effort to force them out of Berlin.  Instead, however, the western Allies made an effort to supply the western half of Berlin in what was known as the Berlin Airlift.  The Berlin Airlift lasted for over a year before the Soviets ended the blockade.  In the years following the blockade thousands of East Berliners fled to West Berlin.

Berlin Wall - After Being Reinforced

As a result of the large numbers of people (especially skilled laborers, such as doctors) fleeing East Berlin, the East German government closed its border for good.  The Berlin Wall was built over a two week span in August of 1961, after which people could only cross from East to West Berlin through one of three checkpoints.  Throughout time, the makeshift wall was reinforced and turned into a wall of reinforced concrete that was topped with an enormous pipe to make climbing over nearly impossible.  Along the Wall's east side ran a 'death zone', which was controlled by guards and watchdogs to prevent escape.  Between 170 and 200 people were killed attempting to get past the wall; however, over 5,000 East Germans were successful in their attempts to cross the border.

"The Fall of the Berlin Wall" - November 1989

Although the Wall originally stood to keep people from fleeing the East, it eventually became a symbol of the Cold War.  As the Cold War came to an end in November of 1989, it was announced that people would be able to freely cross the wall.  Berlin was united for the first time since 1945.

East Side Gallery

Most of the wall has since been destroyed, but there are parts that still remain.  The most famous strech of the remaining Wall is the East Side Gallery, which is located along Muhlenstrasse and is filled with paintings.  Other parts of the Wall that have been saved can be found in various buildings and museums around Berlin.

Sources:

"Berlin Wall." A View On Cities. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. .

"Berlin Wall — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts." History.com — History Made Every Day — American & World History. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. .

Dunford, Lisa. Central Europe. 9th ed. Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet, 2011. Print.