Here stands Apelstein 3 a silent sentinel in Dösen. This unassuming stone monument is one of fifty Apelsteine. They mark the positions of armies during the Battle of Leipzig. The Battle of the Nations. A colossal clash in 1813. It involved nearly 600000 soldiers. This made it Europe’s largest battle before World War I.
Apelstein 3 specifically commemorates the IX Corps. Under the command of General Augereau. It consisted of 10000 men. The inscription on the stone reveals this. The battle it depicts took place near Wachau on October 16 1813. The Battle of Leipzig was brutal. Casualties were staggering. Over 100000 soldiers perished. Disease ran rampant afterwards. Typhus and cholera spread through Europe.
This stone stands as a poignant reminder. A sobering testament to the human cost of war. Guido Theodor Apel a Leipzig citizen and writer initiated the Apelstein project. He dedicated years to erecting these memorials. Between 1861 and 1864 he placed many. Others followed from private donations and societies. These aren’t the originals. The original sandstones proved too weak. Many were replaced with copies in stronger materials. Some copies even strayed from the original designs.
Each Apelstein bears a unique inscription. It details the army’s commander number of men and battle date. The Apelsteine were initially rectangular columns. They were about 1.5 meters high. Those marking Allied positions have pointed tops. A V for Verbündete. The Napoleon’s troops’ stones have round tops and an N. The Apelsteine reveal more than just troop positions. They embody a shared history. A solemn reflection on a pivotal moment in European history. They are far more than just stones. Apelstein 3 is a silent witness to a war that shaped the continent. It is a small stone but it holds immense historical weight. Remember the Battle of Leipzig when you look upon Apelstein 3.