Introduction to the Empty Bookshelf: The Empty Bookshelf (Denkmal zur Erinnerung an die Bücherverbrennung) was established in 1995 and is embedded in the ground of the square in front of Humboldt University. It is the work of Israeli artist Micha Ullman as a warning to May 10, 1933. A book-burning incident instigated by the Nazis took place here on 19th. In this incident, more than 20,000 books about the Jewish nation, communism, and books promoting freedom and democracy were burned. There is a sign on the ground next to it, with Heine's famous saying on it: "Where books are burned, people will be thrown into the fire."