Remembering sacrifice, let’s pause here at the Garde-Reiter-Denkmal. This monument stands as a solemn reminder of the Garde-Reiter-Regiment’s dedication. It honors their service to king, country, and duty.
Once, a towering obelisk stood here. The Garde-Reiter-Denkmal was located at Stauffenbergallee 12. This was opposite the Garde-Reiter-Kaserne’s main entrance.
Wilhelm Herbert Lossow designed the Garde-Reiter-Denkmal. He was the son of architect William Lossow. Saxon military and veteran associations commissioned the design. The Garde-Reiter-Denkmal was to be a tall obelisk. It would display the names of the fallen in bronze letters. A relief of a Garde-Reiter in battle would adorn the street side. Pirna sandstone formed the seven-meter-high monument. Sculptor Arthur Lange executed Lossow’s designs.
The Garde-Reiter-Denkmal’s inauguration occurred on November 1, 1919. This coincided with the regiment’s disbandment and integration into the Reichswehr. Regiment Number 12 then occupied the barracks. Later, in the 1930s, the Wehrmacht took over. The Garde-Reiter-Denkmal was Dresden’s first memorial. It honored those who fell in World War I. The event drew a large crowd. Dignitaries included former regiment members. The Saxon officer corps, led by Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony, also attended. Veterans and Saxon military associations also attended. Family members of the fallen were present. Following military music, Hofprediger Pfarrer Keßler spoke. General Krug von Nidda then explained the regiment’s significance and history. Many notable figures belonged to this unit. Reserveleutnant Wilhelm Lossow was among them. The reading of the names was a solemn moment. Three officials, 17 officers, 15 non-commissioned officers and 73 enlisted men were honored.
Annual commemorations took place at the Garde-Reiter-Denkmal until 1939. The monument survived the bombing of Dresden in 1945. However, in 1946, communist authorities labeled it a fascist military symbol. The Landesamt für Denkmalpflege ordered its removal. Around 1953, the obelisk was removed. Only the bastion-like base remained. It fell into disrepair during the GDR era.
In 2003, efforts were made to secure and restore the Garde-Reiter-Denkmal’s foundations. The Arbeitskreis Sächsischer Militärgeschichte e.V. led this. They received funds from various donors. These included the city of Dresden and the Stadtsparkasse Dresden. A bronze memorial plaque was also installed. Today, the Garde-Reiter-Denkmal serves as a poignant reminder. It speaks of a regiment’s courage and sacrifice.