Germany: memories of a nation at British Museum

Volkswagen Beetle Type 1, 1953

Germany, the country where the biggest forced migration in Europe’s history took place, will be the new protagonist at the British Museum. The exposition Germany: memories of a nation will be open from the 16th of October until the 25th of January in the Room 35. The display will gather around 200 objects that will showcase the history of this country from the past 600 years. 

The exhibition coincides with the commemoration of the D-Day, the start of the Great War and the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (the 9th of November, 1989). It will be planned around four different themes: floating frontiers; empire and nation; arts and achievement; crisis and memory.

The show will display the technological, historical and art achievements that defined Germany's development. Gutenberg, Hitler, the Bauhaus artists, Kafka, Martin Luther and Napoleon are just some of the protagonist of this spectacular exhibition.

The Tower of London and the WWI

The Tower of London moat is turned scarlet this August to commemorate the first full day of Britain's participation in the First World War. An installation by ceramic artist Paul Cummins and setting by stage designer Tom Piper will be on display from today until the Armistice Day, on the 11th of November, when the last poppy will symbolically be planted. 

“Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” consists of 888,246 red ceramic poppies. Each of the individual flowers represents one of the allied victims of the First World War. Besides, during these days, the names of the 180 combatants who were killed in the War will be read before a bugler plays the Last Post.

From today it will be possible to buy one of them for £25, although the poppies will remain in place until November. The installation is planned to raise more than £15m for service charities. (Confederation of Service Charities, Combat Stress, Coming Home, Help for Heroes, Royal British Legion and The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association).