Look closely at the bronze figure before you. This is the Erntehelferin. The Harvest Worker. She stands tall a testament to the agricultural past of Markendorf. A part of Frankfurt Oder.
Created in the 1970s by Frankfurt sculptor Walter Kreisel this Erntehelferin wasn’t always here. Originally she stood proudly in front of the Markendorf fruit-growing combine. Imagine the scene bustling activity the scent of ripe apples and the sounds of harvesting. The Erntehelferin was a symbol of that era of collective work and agricultural success.
But time marched on. The combine faded. The Erntehelferin stood alone. Yet she wasn’t forgotten. In 2019 thanks to the Frankfurt Oder Cultural Office she received a new lease of life. The bronze was repaired by Seiler’s bronze foundry. Dirk Knoesel’s stonemasons built a new foundation and plinth. The Erntehelferin returned to public view. This time in her present location.
Today you see her a silent observer a bronze sentinel gazing towards the past. The Erntehelferin is more than just a statue. She’s a poignant reminder of a bygone era. She represents the hard work and dedication of the harvest workers. Their legacy lives on in this enduring bronze. She speaks of resilience. She symbolizes the enduring spirit of this community. This is the Erntehelferin. This is history cast in bronze. Let her story remain a tribute to those who came before us.