The Bebelplatz

On May 10, 1933, Bebelplatz, then known as Opernplatz, became the site of a grim event orchestrated by Nazi Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels. It was here, across from Humboldt University, that Goebbels organized the burning of 20,000 books. These books were authored by individuals deemed "immoral" by the Nazis, including renowned writers such as Thomas and Heinrich Mann, Arnold Zweig, Kurt Tucholsky, and Sigmund Freud.

A Monument to Memory

Today, a monument stands as a solemn reminder of this historical event, though it attributes the act to Nazi students. Located in the section of Bebelplatz bordered by the Opera House and Humboldt University, the monument is easy to overlook at first glance. Its placement is underground, marked by a piece of plexiglass set into the ground at the center of the square.

Through this plexiglass, viewers can peer into a stark, white room beneath the surface. The room is lined with empty, white bookcases, symbolizing the 20,000 books that were once burned above. This emptiness speaks volumes about the loss of ideas and knowledge that occurred here.

Heinrich Heine's Prophetic Words

The book burning at Bebelplatz foreshadowed darker times ahead. Among the authors whose works were destroyed was Heinrich Heine, a Jewish philosopher and writer. His words from an 1821 play resonate with chilling accuracy: "This was only the foreplay. Where they burn books, they will also burn people." Sadly, his prediction came true.