ˈɜːli fˈoʊɾəɡɹˌæfz ʃˈoʊ ðə məmˈoːɹɪəl stˈændɪŋ ɪn ɐ wˈɪldɚnəs ʌv ɹˈuːɪnz, ðə tˈɪɹɡɑːɹʔˌn̩ hˌævɪŋ bˌɪn dᵻstɹˈɔɪd baɪ ɪnsˈɛndjɚɹi bˈɑːmz ænd ðˈɛn stɹˈɪpt ʌv tˈɪmbɚ fɔːɹ fˈaɪɚwʊd dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə lˈæst mˈʌnθs ʌvðə wˈɔːɹ.
Early photographs show the memorial standing in a wilderness of ruins, the Tiergarten having been destroyed by incendiary bombs and then stripped of timber for firewood during the last months of the war.