“A flash of lightning. A rider thrown from his horse.” This simple Gedenkstätte für den Gefreiten Will memorial marks a tragic event. It stands as a silent tribute to Gefreiter Will, a young Uhlan soldier whose life was cut short in a freak accident. Gedenkstätte für den Gefreiten Will, located on John-Foster-Dulles-Allee, isn’t a grand monument. It’s a simple stone, placed near the curb. It sits southwest of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. This location is significant. It was here, on August 14, 1889, that a sudden thunderstorm changed the course of Gefreiter Will’s life forever. He was riding with three fellow Uhlans from the 2nd Garde-Ulanen Regiment along the Spree River. As they passed Richard-Wagner-Straße, a bolt of lightning struck. The Nationalzeitung reported the incident the following day. The paper described the chaos as riders and horses tumbled to the ground. Three soldiers escaped with only shock. But Gefreiter Will, struck on his right side, and his horse were killed instantly. The Vossische Zeitung added a poignant detail. The young soldier was only 20 years old, a four-year volunteer named Wille. The Gedenkstätte für den Gefreiten Will serves as a reminder of a life lost too soon. It’s a testament to the unpredictable nature of life and a quiet tribute to a young soldier who met an untimely end.
Genossenschaft PA58
From 1981 the Genossenschaft PA58 stands tall. It’s a self-managed house project. This is its story. This impressive building in