Die Woge – 100 Jahre DLRG Sculpture

Did you ever consider how a simple wave can symbolize a century of dedication? Right here before us stands Die Woge – 100 Jahre DLRG, a sculpture commemorating 100 years of the German Life Saving Association (DLRG). The sculpture, with its stylized wave of stainless steel cresting atop a stone stele, embodies the relentless force and unwavering commitment of the DLRG. Die Woge – 100 Jahre DLRG was created in 2013 by the artist Rainer Henze, a fitting tribute to an organization born from tragedy. The DLRG’s origins trace back to a fateful day in 1912 on the pier in Binz, Rügen. A crowd gathered to watch a naval maneuver and greet the arriving steamship Kronprinz Wilhelm. The pier, unable to bear the weight, collapsed, plunging dozens into the sea. Sixteen people drowned that day, a stark reminder of the need for organized water rescue. The DLRG was founded the following year, in 1913, at the Hotel “Preußischer Hof” in Leipzig, not far from where we stand today. Die Woge – 100 Jahre DLRG stands as a testament to their mission. Inscribed on the stone beneath the wave is the story of the DLRG’s birth and its growth into the world’s largest water rescue organization, now boasting over 1.2 million members. It speaks of their dedication to education, training, and deployment in the fight against drowning. Located near the Schreberbad on the Elstermühlgraben, Die Woge – 100 Jahre DLRG serves as a constant reminder of the importance of water safety and the heroic efforts of those who dedicate their lives to saving others. The wave, frozen in time, represents the continuous struggle against the dangers of water, a struggle the DLRG has embraced for over a century.