Gefallenendenkmal

Georg Robert Türke, a sculptor born in Meissen, left an indelible mark on the Gefallenendenkmal. This war memorial, nestled within the serene Markusfriedhof, stands as a poignant tribute to the fallen soldiers of World War I. The Gefallenendenkmal, unveiled in 1924, was commissioned by the local military association. Its creation was deeply influenced by Türke’s personal experiences during the war. He crafted over twenty war memorials across Saxony during the 1920s. The Gefallenendenkmal serves as a reminder of the 13,880 Dresden citizens who perished in the Great War, among them the soldiers from Pieschen honored here. Türke’s artistic journey began at the Königliche Kunstakademie in Dresden. Under the tutelage of renowned sculptors Johannes Schilling, Selmar Werner, and Georg Wrba, he honed his skills. Over his prolific career, spanning six decades, Türke produced over 650 works of art. Tragically, the bombing of Dresden in 1945 destroyed many of his creations, including a vast collection of graphic art, housed in his atelier. Türke’s legacy extends beyond the Gefallenendenkmal. In 1958, he created the poignant Mahnmal in Käthe-Kollwitz-Park in Meissen. Based on a drawing by Lea Grundig, it depicts two concentration camp prisoners carrying a fallen comrade, a stark reminder of the horrors of war.