Imagine a monument erected for you stands here. This Obelisk Sculpture in Hamburg, though perhaps less grand than a monument to a chancellor, still holds its own story.
The Bismarck Denkmal stands tall in St. Pauli. It is a tribute to Otto von Bismarck. He was the first Chancellor of the German Empire. The monument reaches 35 meters high. It is one of the most famous Bismarck representations worldwide. Designed by Johann Emil Schaudt, Hugh Braun sculpted it. Construction finished in 1906. Thousands attended the dedication. The ceremony showed the German admiration for Bismarck.
Interestingly, the city struggled with commemorating Heinrich Heine. He was a Jewish poet. Nationalists opposed him. They burned his books. They tore down his monuments. One monument was saved. It was moved to Toulon, France.
Let us turn our attention back to the Obelisk Sculpture. The file name “Obelisk Heckenrosenweg Hamburg.jpg” suggests its location. A monument commemorates Jfr. Catharina Margaretha von Axen. She was born in Hamburg on November 20, 1773. She died in Charlottenburg on September 13, 1799.
Consider the Oberstrasse synagogue monument. It commemorates the desecration by the Nazis in 1938. The bronze sculpture shows a torn Torah ark curtain. A desecrated Torah scroll lies on the threshold. A German inscription describes the synagogue’s history. Doris Waschk-Balz created the monument. It was inaugurated on November 9, 1983.
While the Bismarck Denkmal overwhelms with size, the Obelisk Sculpture offers something different. It is a place for quiet contemplation. It connects us to Hamburg’s past.