“For the German people honour and freedom.” These words mark a place of solemn remembrance. We stand before the Ehrenmal War memorial. This memorial commemorates the 39th Fusilier Regiment. It serves as a poignant reminder of the First World War. Its history is deeply intertwined with a tumultuous period in German history.
The Ehrenmal’s story began in 1928. The Traditionsverband of the Füsilier-Regiments Nr. 39 launched a competition for a war memorial. Jupp Rübsam, a former member of the regiment, won. He also was a member of the artist group Junges Rheinland.
His winning design, “Innere Festigung” meaning “inner strengthening”, was unique. It featured two soldiers lying on their stomachs. One soldier wears a helmet. The other appears wounded. They clasp hands. The monument was neither patriotic nor antimilitarist. It expressed the idea of inner strength through assistance. Its form was expressionistic.
The unveiling took place on September 2 1928 in front of the Rheinhalle. Erich Ludendorff, a prominent figure, cancelled his appearance. He sharply criticized the monument. He especially disliked the sphinx-like pose of the comrades. Rübsam’s work aimed to depict comradeship and mutual help among soldiers. It faced criticism from various political factions. SPD and KPD and NS circles disapproved of it. The Rheinische Sezession and over 400 artists defended the memorial. They urged the city to support it to preserve Düsseldorf’s reputation as an art city. The Reichsverband bildender Künstler Deutschlands also supported Rübsam.
The Ehrenmal stands as a testament to the complexities of memory. It reflects the shifting attitudes towards war and sacrifice. Today only fragments of the artwork remain. The memorial also contains the text: “Fuer des Deutschen Volkes Ehre und Freiheit”. This phrase connects the memorial to a specific historical context. It refers to the Nazi period. It was erected in July 1939. This was shortly before the start of the Second World War.
The Ehrenmal invites reflection. It is not only on the past. It is also on the values of camaraderie and support. These values endure even in the face of conflict. The Ehrenmal War memorial reminds us of the human cost of war. It also emphasizes the importance of inner strength.