Whispers of victory and loss echo around the Altes Kriegerdenkmal. It stands here as a testament to a pivotal moment in German history. The Altes Kriegerdenkmal commemorates the German victory in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. Erected on the northern edge of Freiburg’s historic center, it originally stood next to the Karlskaserne barracks.
Imagine Freiburg in the late 19th century. A surge of national pride swept through the city after the war. Funds poured in from across Baden. From Lörrach to Karlsruhe, people donated to erect a monument worthy of the victory.
The Altes Kriegerdenkmal is dedicated to the XIV Corps of the German army. This corps consisted mainly of soldiers from Baden. General August von Werder commanded them. They achieved victory at the battles of Montbéliard in 1871.
A competition was held to design the Altes Kriegerdenkmal. Sculptors from across Germany submitted their proposals. The jury included prominent artists and art connoisseurs. Ernst Julius Hähnel from Dresden and Wilhelm Lübke from Stuttgart were among them. Eduard Magnus from Berlin, Friedrich Pecht from Munich, and Gottfried Semper from Vienna also participated. Karl Friedrich Moest, a sculptor from Karlsruhe Art School, won. He was entrusted with the monument’s creation.
The Altes Kriegerdenkmal features intricate details. The casting house of Lenz in Nürnberg created sculptural and ornamental elements. Local sculptor Alberto Luratti worked on the granite. Gun barrels from the defeated enemy were used in its decoration. The total cost was 85000 gold marks.
The monument was inaugurated on October 3 1876. Emperor Wilhelm I, Grand Duke Frederick I, and Imperial Chancellor Otto von Bismarck attended. August von Werder also graced the ceremony as an honored guest.
The Altes Kriegerdenkmal has faced challenges. In 1940, Robert Heinrich Wagner wanted to give it to Adolf Hitler. The city administration refused. The monument remarkably survived a bombing in 1944. The adjacent Karlsbau barracks were completely destroyed. After the war, in 1961, the Altes Kriegerdenkmal was moved. It became an obstacle on the new city highway. It was shifted 100 meters west.
The Altes Kriegerdenkmal’s design is striking. Steps surround its square base on all four sides. The statue of the goddess of victory crowns the tapered pedestal. She stands on a hemisphere holding a laurel wreath. Four warriors rise from the base’s corners. They bear different weapons. Three symbolize defenders. One represents a fatally injured artillerist.
Bronze tablets adorn the pedestal with inscriptions. They honor the XIV Corps and General Werder. They commemorate the battles at Belfort. They pay tribute to the sons of Baden. Medallions with German Reich emblems embellish the tablets.
The Altes Kriegerdenkmal has undergone changes but endures. It was initially praised for dominating its location. Its architecture was considered slightly soft and bluntly structured. It serves as a reminder of victory and sacrifice. Today it stands on Europaplatz. It connects Freiburg’s past with its present. The Altes Kriegerdenkmal remains a powerful symbol of German history.