Here at Delitzscher Stra\u00dfe 34 stands Apelstein 36. It is more than just a stone. It whispers tales of a pivotal moment in European history. This monument marks the spot where General Bl\u00fccher and his Silesian army stood during the Battle of Leipzig.
Apelstein 36 commemorates the V\u00f6lkerschlacht. This battle raged in October 1813 outside Leipzig’s gates. Bl\u00fccher’s Prussian forces numbered around 25,000 strong. They formed the V. Angriffskolonne. They stormed Leipzig on October 18, 1813.
The Apelstein 36 we see today is mostly original. It has seen some minor repairs over the years. The monument’s story begins with Dr. Theodor Apel. He was a Leipzig writer. He lived from 1811 to 1867. In 1863, Apel paid for the stone to be erected. He created it as the 36th memorial stone.
This obelisk is made of sandstone. It stands about 1.30 meters tall. Look closely at the north side of Apelstein 36. You will see an inscription. It reads: “N. V. Colonne Gen. v. Bl\u00fccher Schles. Armee 25000 M.”
The ‘N’ indicates the direction north. The ‘V’ signifies the stone marks the location. It was a position of allied forces. They stood against Napol\u00e9on. He was the Emperor of the French.
Now, observe the east and west sides. These sides are directly against the house wall. The other points towards the street. You’ll notice abbreviations for east and west. There are feathered arrows pointing south.
Finally, examine the south side of Apelstein 36. Here, you’ll find another inscription. It states: “Schlacht bei LEIPZIG am 18. Octbr. 1813.” The ‘S’ represents the direction south. The ‘V’ again stands for Verb\u00fcndete Truppen. It means allied troops.
The Apelsteine serve as silent witnesses. They are a network of 50 monuments in and around Leipzig. Theodor Apel initiated them. He wanted to mark important sites of the Battle of Leipzig. From 1861 to 1864, Apel funded the creation of 44 stones. The remaining six were added later. They were funded by private donations. Apel’s foundation and various associations contributed.
These sandstone pillars were originally about 1.5 meters tall. They marked positions of the coalition troops. They feature a pointed top resembling an inverted ‘V’. This ‘V’ stands for Verb\u00fcndete meaning Allies. Stones marking Napoleonic troop locations have a round top. They feature an ‘N’. The inscriptions on the battlefield-facing side display the battle name. They also show the date. The opposite side lists commanders and troop details. Two arrows on the narrow sides indicate the front line’s direction. The tops of the stones show the cardinal directions.
Originally, even numbers were assigned to coalition troops. Odd numbers marked Napoleonic forces up to number 42. Sandstone proved fragile. Construction encroached on the stones originally outside the city. Replicas replaced many stones in the 19th century. These were sometimes moved slightly. They used more durable materials. The copies sometimes differed in size and form. Some even had textual errors.
Apelstein 36 stands as a reminder. It reminds us of the sacrifices made. It commemorates the turning point in European history. Take a moment to appreciate its history. Envision the clash of armies. Imagine the landscape during that fateful October in 1813.