“Who was Georg Schumann?” That’s a question many visitors ask when they first see the Georg-Schumann-Büste Bust. This bust honors Georg Schumann. He was a Leipziger politician and antifascist.
The Georg-Schumann-Büste Bust stands in the courtyard of the Georg-Schumann-Schule. This school is located on Glockenstraße 6. You will find it in Leipzig’s Südostvorstadt district.
Let’s examine the monument itself. It features a narrow sandstone block. The block is 1.1 meters high. It has a square base. A flat stone plinth supports it. The plinth holds a 65 cm high bronze bust. This bust depicts Georg Schumann’s head.
The Leipzig sculptor K. Schwabe designed the Georg-Schumann-Büste Bust. Schwabe was born in 1939. The Lauchhammer foundry cast the bronze bust. Originally, it was placed in the Georg-Schumann-Oberschule. Georg Schumann himself attended school in that building.
Notably, the Georg-Schumann-Büste Bust was initially unmarked. Later, a brick wall was erected behind it. The name “Georg Schumann” was affixed to the wall.
Interestingly, a second casting of the Georg-Schumann-Büste Bust existed. It was integrated into the Georg-Schumann-Gedenkstätte. However, that memorial was removed in 1998.
Georg Schumann was born in 1886 and executed in 1945. He was a toolmaker. Schumann was involved in the resistance against National Socialism. His last residence was in Wahren at Raustraße 6.
A major street in Leipzig bears his name. It is the Georg-Schumann-Straße. This road leads towards Schkeuditz and Halle. It forms part of Bundesstraße 6.
From 1972 to 1991, a barracks in Leipzig’s Möckern neighborhood was named Georg-Schumann-Kaserne. A memorial to Schumann stood there. The memorial has since been torn down. A memorial for the entire resistance group exists in a cemetery. Walter Arnold designed it.
A school in Leipzig still bears his name. It is called Georg-Schumann-Schule. In 1976, East Germany issued a 10 Pfennig postage stamp in his honor.
Georg Schumann co-founded one of the most active communist resistance groups. It was known as the Schumann-Engert-Kresse Gruppe. Otto Engert and Kurt Kresse were also part of it.
In the summer of 1944, the Gestapo arrested Schumann and Engert. They were severely tortured during interrogation. Schumann was sentenced to death. The charge was “preparation for high treason”. He was executed in Dresden on January 11, 1945. After the war, his urn was buried with other resistance members. It is in Leipzig’s southern cemetery. It occupies a prominent place on the main path.
The Georg-Schumann-Büste Bust reminds us of a brave man. He fought against injustice. His legacy lives on in Leipzig’s history.
Take a moment to reflect on Georg Schumann’s life. Consider his courage and sacrifice. The Georg-Schumann-Büste Bust stands as a testament to his unwavering spirit.