Could a small structure of red brick tell a tale of political turmoil? Here stands the Ebert-Erzberger-Rathenau-Denkmal. It is located between the Erich-Maria-Remarque-Ring and Herrenteichswall. This monument carries a weighty history. It honors three pivotal figures of the Weimar Republic. They were Friedrich Ebert, Matthias Erzberger, and Walther Rathenau.
The Ebert-Erzberger-Rathenau-Denkmal wasn’t always here. The Osnabrück branch of the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold initiated the idea. They sought to commemorate these leaders after their deaths or assassinations. Initially, a location on the city wall was denied. Many council members held anti-republican views. A spot was found near the Karlstraße. It is now Nonnenpfad on Herrenteichswall.
Justus Haarmann designed the monument. He praised the location. He said that it was not removed from modern life. It was still in the middle of it. Haarmann noted that the place was excellent because traffic surrounded it. Yet the site remained separate from the traffic.
The abstract Bauhaus-style design came from Justus Haarmann. He was the son of August Haarmann. Even before the cornerstone was laid on July 1 1928 the base suffered damage by unknown individuals. During the ceremony 150 Reichsbanner supporters attended. National Socialist hecklers disrupted the speakers.
On July 29 1928 the Ebert-Erzberger-Rathenau-Denkmal was dedicated. This occurred amidst protests from opponents of the Weimar Republic. These opponents primarily came from right-wing conservative and German-nationalist circles. Hans Vogel a Reichstag member from the SPD delivered the dedicatory speech.
However the Ebert-Erzberger-Rathenau-Denkmal’s story took a dark turn. On May 12 1933 shortly after the Nazis seized power a motion was made to demolish the monument. The newly elected council approved its immediate removal. SA men carried out the destruction on May 15 1933. The monument vanished from the cityscape in less than five years.
The demolition was not only due to honoring republican politicians. It was also because of the Bauhaus style. The Nazis deemed the style as degenerate. The city council justified the decision. They cited the monument’s incompatibility with honorary citizenships of Adolf Hitler and Paul von Hindenburg. The decision served as an ideological warning to potential opponents of the regime.
To further erase Friedrich Ebert from memory the Nazis renamed Friedrich-Ebert-Allee. It became Horst-Wessel-Allee. In 1946 this was reversed. The street has been called Ebertallee ever since. In Sonnenhügel there has been an Erzbergerstraße and a Walther-Rathenau-Straße since 1950.
Decades later in 1980 the CDU faction proposed rebuilding the Ebert-Erzberger-Rathenau-Denkmal. The city council unanimously approved the motion with great support. By 1983 the monument was rebuilt. It was based on the historical model. A renovation occurred in 2000.
The Ebert-Erzberger-Rathenau-Denkmal stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of a turbulent era. It is also a symbol of resilience and remembrance. It embodies the enduring spirit of democracy. The monument embodies the fight against tyranny.