Memorial

It turns out that this is the Berlin Holocaust Memorial. It is 2700 different stone slabs, varying in height on uneven ground. It opened in 2005.

I later learn that this monument was controversial, since it is very abstract, contains no religious identification, and the anti-graffiti agent used on the stone was provided by a company that manufactured poison gas in WWII.

I agree with the concern that no one will know what it means (I had to look it up) and that it will become just another tourist thing to do in Berlin, but I also thought it was quite cool, and maybe, it's ok that it doesn't scream its meaning at you.

The artist who designed it said that he thought the graffiti that is so common here would be a good thing, and I think I agree with him. In 20 years, these slabs, covered with graffiti would be really impressive. Again, maybe not holocaust-y, but I'm ok with that.