My research trip to Germany was so helpful in writing my novel Lilac Girls. In honor of the upcoming anniversary of German Unity Day, which honors the day the Berlin Wall came down and East and West Germany were officially reunited, I thought I’d share photos from my trip to Berlin’s Topographie des Terrors (Topography of Terror.) This incredible, aptly-named, indoor/outdoor museum is located on Niederkirchnerstrasse on the site of what once was Gestapo and SS headquarters. 
The outdoor portion of the Topography of Terror site is located in the former cellar of the Gestapo headquarters, where many political prisoners were tortured and executed, open to the elements but protected by a canopy. Visitors walk along the exhibit, following the progression of the history of Nazi repression. 
The exhibit starts with Hitler’s rise to power.
The exhibit chronicles life in pre-war Berlin. The caption below the photo of the dancers, above, reads: The Scala Girls, 1929. Numerous revues characterised the liberal, permissive atmosphere of Berlin in the 1920s, while over 60 theaters offered a big variety of productions. 
Nazi students burning “politically undesirable” books
Prayer for Hitler (above) taken from a primary school book
Love letter confiscated by the Gestapo. Accused of homosexuality, Franz received a four month suspended prison sentence. He was luckier than many of those accused of homosexuality who were sent to concentration camps and tortured, castrated and murdered.
The horror of the T4 euthanasia, where German citizens considered unfit for the gene pool were murdered at killing centers. The photo of young Hildegarde, who suffered from epilepsy, diagnosed with “idiocy” and sent to an unidentified killing center, is especially poignant. 
Anti-Semetic poster above reads Avoid jewish Doctors and Lawyers
Hope you get a chance to visit this fascinating museum–it’s well worth the trip.
