How often do we pause to consider the weight of history etched in stone? Here before us stands the Gefallenendenkmal des Infanterie-Regiments 31. It is not just a monument. It is a stark reminder of sacrifice and loss.
This monument, dedicated to the fallen heroes of Infantry Regiment 31, stands on the grounds of St. Johannis Church. This was once the regiment’s garrison church. Surviving members of the regiment commissioned it after World War I. It was designed by architects Heinrich Esselmann and Max Gerntke. August Henneberger was the sculptor. John Kriegeris executed the design. The monument was inaugurated on October 5, 1925.
Rising 8.50 meters high, the Gefallenendenkmal des Infanterie-Regiments 31 is a triangular stele crafted from clinker bricks and ceramics. Each side features a soldier with a sword and shield. These figures represent the active, reserve, and Landwehr sections of the regiment.
The inscription reads: “The fallen heroes to the grateful memory, the survivors as a warning, the coming generations to emulate.” This echoes the dedication on the Prussian National Monument for the Liberation Wars in Berlin. Paul von Hindenburg also used similar words.
Yet, the Gefallenendenkmal des Infanterie-Regiments 31 has a more complex story. By the 1970s, former regiment members still gathered here. They held ceremonies on Volkstrauertag. This is the German national day of mourning.
In 1994, St. Johannis Church decided to redesign what they called a “warrior cult monument.” Students from Hamburg University of Applied Sciences helped. In 1996, Altona artist Rainer Tiedje created a counter-monument. Tiedje installed three acrylic panels around the original war memorial. These panels depict men writhing in pain. They offer a stark contrast to the heroic figures on the pillar. The panels force viewers to confront the brutal reality of war.
The Gefallenendenkmal des Infanterie-Regiments 31 became a site of reflection. It now encourages us to remember the past and question the glorification of conflict.
In 2009, one of Tiedje’s panels was destroyed. Wiebke Logemann, another artist, replaced it. This act shows the ongoing dialogue and reinterpretation of the monument’s message.
Take a moment to reflect on the Gefallenendenkmal des Infanterie-Regiments 31. It is a testament to the human cost of war. It serves as a constant reminder of the importance of peace. It challenges us to learn from history.