We learn about nations not just through their history but through the buildings they erect. National monuments are a sign of the condition of a particular nation. Thus the Siegesäule (Victory Column) for example, tells us a lot about the origins of the German nationalist movement (leading eventually to the formation of the "Second Reich") and about the self image of the German Empire around 1870. Other European nations can also relate their history through their monuments. Next year, we want to use the rooms at the base of the Siegesäule (Victory Column) to present these monuments and tell the story of their creation. This should help us understand our European neighbours and give us an insight into their history. What stories can the Arc de Triomphe in Paris tell us, or Nelson's Column in London, the Victor Emanuel memorial in Rome, the Kremlin in Moscow, the Hradschin in Prague, about our neighbour states and about the history of their countries - about our own contribution to a common Europe? Many of these monuments have become symbols of European capital cities. They have become a part of the architecture and belong to our collective memory and it is the aim of the planned exhibition to uncover this memory, to tell its story, and integrate it into the multi-facetted history of Europe. The forthcoming exhibition hopes to connect the story of these monuments, the monument tales, to a little revue covering over two thousand years of European history. You will find the beginnings of our collection on the walls and in the showcase. It consists mainly of mementoes collected on journeys through Europe. There are possibly some of you with your own keepsake, a small piece of our European history which you would like to make available for future exhibitions. Let us know - the story of the monuments is a story worth telling.