Did a single man truly believe he could change the course of history? Here at the Georg Elser Bust in Konstanz, we grapple with this very question. The bust, created by Markus Daum and unveiled in 2009, commemorates Georg Elser, a carpenter who dared to defy Hitler. The inscription on the bust reads, “Johann Georg Elser 1903 – 1945. ‘I wanted to prevent the war’. Arrested here on the day of his bomb attack on Adolf Hitler on 8.11.1939 while fleeing to Switzerland.” This very spot, the Wessenberg Garden, is where Elser was apprehended on November 8, 1939, just hours before his bomb detonated in Munich’s Bürgerbräukeller. He was mere meters from the Swiss border, hoping to escape, when customs officers stopped him. Initially, they found nothing overtly suspicious. Only after news of the explosion reached Konstanz did the items in Elser’s pockets gain significance: a postcard of the Bürgerbräukeller, a Red Front Fighters’ Alliance badge, and bomb-making notes. This seemingly insignificant location became the turning point in Elser’s story, and perhaps a pivotal moment in history. The Georg Elser Bust stands not only as a tribute to Elser’s audacity but also as a stark reminder of the resistance that existed within Nazi Germany. Elser, who lived and worked in Konstanz from 1925 to 1932, meticulously planned his attack, spending over 30 nights hollowing out a pillar in the Bürgerbräukeller to plant his bomb. Sadly, fate intervened. Hitler left the beer hall earlier than expected, escaping the blast. Eight others were killed, and over 60 injured. Elser’s act, though tragically unsuccessful, revealed a glimmer of defiance in the face of tyranny. The Georg Elser Bust in Konstanz stands as a poignant symbol of courage, foresight, and the enduring power of individual action.
Geodätischer Kontrollpunkt Konstanz
Surveying the city with unseen precision. Here lies the Geodätischer Kontrollpunkt Konstanz. It is a testament to accuracy. Have you