“Achte das Leben” – “Respect life.” These words grace the memorial, a poignant reminder of the cost of war. We stand before the Ehrenmal für die Gefallenen des 1. Weltkrieges, a war memorial in Essen. It is a place of remembrance. It honors those who perished in the First World War.
The story of this memorial is one of destruction and renewal. A previous memorial was erected in 1927. Sculptor Joseph Enseling created it. It stood in the market square. The memorial consisted of two stone steles. The right stele bore an inscription. It honored the heroes of Frintrop and Dellwig who fell for Germany. A figure stood above the inscription. The left stele listed the names of Frintrop’s fallen from World War I. Sadly, a bomb attack on December 31, 1944, destroyed the monument.
After the war, a new place of remembrance was needed. In 1955, local clubs donated a wooden memorial cross. Master carpenter Johann Arzt crafted it. He used oak and Ruhr sandstone. The cross bore the inscription: “Our fallen and dead of both World Wars 1914/18 and 1939/45.” The city of Essen received the memorial on July 31, 1955.
The wooden cross underwent renovations in 1979 and 1990. It received a weatherproof coating and copper covering. By 1999, the wooden cross was deteriorating. A decision was made to redesign the memorial. Aluminium Essen GmbH, now Trimet Aluminium, offered support. They proposed a new cross made of aluminum.
The new aluminum cross weighed 900 kilograms. It stood nearly five meters tall. The foundation had to be reinforced to support it. On September 9, 1999, the cross was displayed at the aluminum plant. On November 9, it was erected at Leoplatz. The dedication took place on Volkstrauertag, November 17. The Evangelical Church and the Catholic Church officiated. The memorial now bore the inscription: “Achte das Leben. In memory of the dead of both World Wars and tyranny.”
In 2008, the memorial had to be moved. The Herz Jesu Church was being demolished. The Ehrenmal für die Gefallenen des 1. Weltkrieges found its current location. It continues to be the site for annual Volkstrauertag commemorations.
The Ehrenmal für die Gefallenen des 1. Weltkrieges stands as a testament. It embodies the community’s commitment. It serves as a reminder of the past. It urges us to “respect life.” The aluminum cross, a modern symbol of remembrance, ensures that the sacrifices of the past are not forgotten. It is a place to reflect on peace and the importance of cherishing every moment.