“General Frederic” is etched in stone right here. This is Apelstein 19. It’s not just a stone. It marks a pivotal moment in the Battle of Leipzig.
The Apelstein 19 obelisk stands as one of 50 such memorials. These were commissioned by Theodor Apel. He was a writer from Leipzig. A. F. Aster sculpted them. They went up between 1861 and 1865.
Each Apelstein marks positions of armies in the Battle of Leipzig. Apelstein 19 tells of General Frederic. He commanded the 3rd Division. The inscription notes the Battle of Möckern on October 16, 1813.
The Battle of Leipzig was also known as the Battle of the Nations. It raged from October 16 to 19, 1813. Napoleon’s French army fought a coalition. Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden joined forces. This clash decided Napoleon’s fate. The coalition won a decisive victory.
Almost 600,000 soldiers engaged. It was Europe’s largest battle before World War I. The Napoleonic Wars saw no bloodier conflict. The French suffered massive losses. 45,000 were killed or wounded. 36,000 became prisoners including 15,000 wounded. The coalition also suffered. They had 54,000 killed or wounded.
The aftermath brought more suffering. So many dead and wounded overwhelmed care efforts. Typhus and cholera erupted. Leipzig became a hotbed of disease. These diseases spread throughout Germany. Soon, they reached all of Europe.
Guido Theodor Apel designed these memorials. He lived from 1811 to 1867. He wanted to mark army positions. Each Apelstein bears a number. It shows the army’s name and commander. The memorial includes troop numbers. It states the battle’s name and date.
Apelstein 19 is located on Max-Liebermann-Strasse in Leipzig-Gohlis. The reverse side displays the “Schlacht bei Möckern am 16. October 1813” inscription. This memorial is a protected cultural monument in Leipzig. It carries the ID 09297703 from the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Sachsen.
So, as you stand before Apelstein 19, remember its weight. Remember the countless lives affected. This stone connects us to a defining moment in European history.