Can you see the bronze figure standing proudly? It is Der Jüngling Sculpture. This sculpture carries a complex history. It is more than just a work of art.
Der Jüngling was created by Herbert Kubica. It was unveiled in 1936 during the Nazi era. The Nazi party celebrated the crushing of the Bremen Soviet Republic with this sculpture. It honored those who suppressed it. The sculpture was originally placed between the Town Hall and the Church of Our Lady.
At the inauguration, prominent figures were present. Representatives from the Nazi Party attended. Members of the Bremen Senate and the Wehrmacht were there too. A company of Bremen’s Protection Police was present. Even the “freedom fighters” of the Gerstenberg Division and the Caspari Freikorps were there.
The Nazi newspaper “Bremer Zeitung” referred to the “red hordes”. The monument stood for the 24 fallen in the battle for Bremen’s “liberation from the yoke of the Spartacists”. A message of allegiance was sent to the Führer who responded with a thank-you telegram.
After a few years, Der Jüngling had to be stored in the cellars of the Kunsthalle. It was meant to survive the war.
In 1952, a reference work stated that all monuments from the Nazi era had been removed. But on November 7, 1955, a small notice appeared in the Weserkurier. It mentioned men moving an oversized bronze sculpture. The sculpture was being moved between the police station and the Theaterburg. The article mentioned that Herbert Kubica created the sculpture for a competition 20 years prior.
In 1972, the Bremer Nachrichten praised the “monument”. It was described as having an antique tradition. The Lidice Memorial places the hero Jüngling in the context of the horrors. These horrors were caused by German heroic history.
The Lidice Initiative explains that the Nazis celebrated the suppression of the Bremen Soviet Republic with this sculpture.
Der Jüngling remains controversial. It is a reminder of a dark chapter in Bremen’s history. It prompts reflection on the past. It encourages us to remember the importance of freedom and democracy. The statue stands as a reminder of Bremen’s past.