REICHSTAG GRAFFITI

In the Reichstag, the walls speak. Covered in Russian graffiti written by victorious Soviet soldiers in 1945, they''ve remained silent, their words hidden for decades, until rediscovered by architect Norman Foster and his team, who began work on the building in 1995. Preserved by Foster as part of his concept of the Reichstag as a living museum of German history, these anti-German scribblings remain a hotly debated subject. Some charge that the graffiti is morally offensive and masochistic, while others argue that its presence indicates a brave determination not to forget the tragedies of the past. Accompanying essays consider the graffiti as a monument to the individual and offer an historical account of the Battle of Berlin through the eyes of Red Army soldiers as they approached their ultimate goal, the Reichstag. David Jenkins has contributed to The Reichstag Graffiti as an editor. Jenkins qualified as an architect at Kingston School of Architecture in London. he worked extensively in private practice before embarking on a career as a teacher, writer and editor. He is currently Project Director with Foster and Partners in London. Norman Foster has contributed to The Reichstag Graffiti . Foster is an architect. He graduated from Manchester University School of Architecture and City Planning in 1961.