Bronze whispers a silent story of sorrow. It captures the essence of a mother’s grief. Right here stands “For Danmark / Moderen med den dræbte søn”. This monument is in Ryvangen Memorial Park. The sculptor Axel Poulsen created this touching piece.
The For Danmark / Moderen med den dræbte søn sculpture is centrally located. It embodies the pain of loss. The park commemorates Danish resistance members. They fell during the German occupation of World War II.
Ryvangen itself holds a somber history. Before becoming a memorial park it was an army training ground. The German occupying forces seized it in 1943. Part of the field became an execution site. Resistance members met their end here. They were tied to wooden poles and killed by firing squads.
After the liberation in 1945 the site’s true purpose was revealed. The public learned of the executions. The area transformed into a memorial park. It honors those who died for Denmark.
Arne Sørensen initiated the memorial park’s creation. He served as minister for ecclesiastical affairs. Kaj Gottlob designed the park. Aksel Andersen designed the garden. The park officially opened on May 5 1950 five years after liberation.
The Ryvangen Memorial Park features several memorials. There are tombstones and memorial stones. A communal plaque stands at the center. Bronze replicas replaced the wooden execution poles. A commemorative plaque displays Kaj Munk’s verse. It speaks of those who died for Denmark. It also honors the dawn they lit in darkness.
Many hearses drove through Copenhagen to Ryvangen. This procession occurred on August 29 1945. Flags flew at half-mast. Bishop Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard dedicated the park. The royal family and government officials attended the funerals.
A memorial stone marks the burial site. Ninety-one resistance members were reburied here. They had been exhumed from Ryvangen. Their families chose burial closer to home. Remains of 31 resistance members rest here as well. They perished in German prisons and concentration camps.
A pergola stands along the park’s eastern border. It features a memorial wall. One hundred fifty-one plaques memorialize missing resistance members. Their remains were never found.
Since 1949 the Home Guard has honored the fallen. Every Christmas Eve they hold a memorial service here. The Ryvangen Memorial Park remains a place for remembrance. It stands as a tribute to Danish courage and sacrifice. The For Danmark / Moderen med den dræbte søn sculpture serves as a focal point. It reminds visitors of the cost of freedom.