Contemplate this stone. The Apelstein 30 stands here as a silent witness to a tumultuous past. It marks a key location from the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig. These Apelsteine were the idea of Theodor Apel. He was a Leipzig citizen and writer who lived from 1811 to 1867.
Apel used his own money to erect 44 of these markers between 1861 and 1864. Later, six more were added by private individuals and associations. These stones commemorate the battles of 1813. They provide information about the strength of troops, the directions of battle, and commanders.
Look closely at the inscriptions on Apelstein 30. The front reads: Gener. Graf Langeron 30000 M. The back tells us: Sturm auf Schönefeld am 18. Oktober 1813. This indicates that General Graf Langeron commanded 30,000 men in the assault on Schönefeld on October 18, 1813.
These markers help us understand the vast scale of the Battle of Leipzig. Almost 600,000 soldiers fought here. It was the largest battle in Europe before World War I. The coalition forces of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden fought against Napoleon’s French army. Polish, Italian, and German troops also fought on the French side.
The Battle of Leipzig took place from October 16 to 19, 1813. The coalition achieved a decisive victory. The battle was incredibly bloody. The French suffered 45,000 killed or wounded. Also, 36,000 French soldiers were taken prisoner including 15,000 wounded. The coalition lost 54,000 men.
The sheer number of casualties created immense problems. The dead and wounded could not be properly cared for. Typhus and cholera broke out in Leipzig. These diseases then spread throughout Germany and Europe. Leipzig was spared destruction. But the city suffered greatly from the battle’s consequences.
Originally the Apelsteine were rectangular sandstone pillars around 1.5 meters high. Stones marking coalition positions had pointed tops with the letter V. Those for Napoleon’s troops had rounded tops and the letter N. Arrows on the sides showed the front lines. The tops indicated the cardinal directions.
Apel intended even numbers for coalition troops and odd numbers for Napoleon’s forces up to number 42. Because sandstone is not very durable many stones were replaced with copies. Sometimes these were made of harder materials. The copies might differ in size shape or placement. Text errors sometimes occurred during the copying process.
Apelstein 30 reminds us of the sacrifices made during the Battle of the Nations. It connects us to a pivotal moment in European history. Take a moment to reflect on the events that transpired here. Consider the impact of this battle on the course of history.