One Ideology, Two Visions: Ecclesiastical Buildings and State Identity in the Socialist Capital During the Post-War Rebuilding Decades 1945–1975, East Berlin and Warsaw

Post-World War II reconstruction of East Berlin and Warsaw, both socialist capitals, revealed contrasting approaches to religious heritage. While East Berlin systematically removed historic churches to secularize urban space and promote a new socialist identity, Warsaw integrated ecclesiastical buildings into its reconstructed city center. This preservation effort aimed to maintain national identity, thereby legitimizing the socialist regime as the successor of independent Poland. The study highlights how differing visions for state identity influenced architectural decisions during the post-war rebuilding decades (1945–1975).

van der Meulen, M. (2022). One Ideology, Two Visions: Ecclesiastical Buildings and State Identity in the Socialist Capital During the Post-War Rebuilding Decades 1945–1975, East Berlin and Warsaw. State Construction and Art in East Central Europe, 1918–2018, 268–277. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003265818-28