Ten thousand names etched in brick. That’s the Gefallenendenkmal 1. Weltkrieg in Bremen. This imposing memorial stands as a testament to the Bremens who perished in the Great War. It’s more than just a list of names though. It’s a story of a city grappling with its past.
Commissioned in 1933 under the Nazi regime the Gefallenendenkmal 1. Weltkrieg was a project of the new Bremer Senat. Sculptor Ernst Gorsemann a World War I veteran himself designed it. He collaborated with architect Heinrich Wiepking-Jürgensmann. Gorsemann’s own sympathies for National Socialism are undeniable. He even held a professorship at the Nordische Kunsthochschule in Bremen.
The memorial’s design is striking. A ring wall of clinker bricks encloses the names. About 10000 names are inscribed. Noticeably included were members of the Division Gerstenberg and the Freikorps Caspari. These men died fighting the Bremen Republic after World War I. The Freikorps under Major Walter Caspari comprised staunchly nationalistic right-wing former Reichswehr officers and soldiers. Many later joined the Nazi Party or its armed units.
Initially the names of three Nazi Party members who died in pre-1933 political clashes were also included. However these were removed in 1945. The inscription ‘Chor der Toten’ celebrating militarism remains. A central altar-like structure stands within the ring. Opposite this stands a sculpture of a mother a poignant addition to the imposing monument overlooking the Weser River.
Dedicated on October 13 1935 the inauguration was attended by high-ranking military officials. General von Fritsch Mayor Heider and Landesbischof Weidemann were present. A second sculpture by Herbert Kubica further commemorates fallen soldiers. Dedicated in 1934 it was commissioned by the Reichsvereinigung ehemaliger Kriegsgefangener e V Kyffhäuserbund. The inscription was later expanded to include World War II casualties.
The Gefallenendenkmal 1. Weltkrieg’s history is complex. It’s a reminder of a difficult period. It served as a meeting place for neo-Nazi groups in the 1980s and 1990s. This led to the ring wall being sealed with a gate. Today the Gefallenendenkmal 1. Weltkrieg stands as a sobering reminder of the cost of war. It’s a place for reflection on history’s complexities and its lasting impact. It’s a story etched in stone for all to ponder.