Behold the equestrian statue of Frederick the Great. It stands tall on Unter den Linden avenue. This statue commemorates King Frederick II of Prussia. He was also known as “The Old Fritz”.
The Horse Rider Memorial Statue is a masterpiece. Christian Daniel Rauch created it from 1839 to 1851. It marks the transition from neoclassicism to realism. Rauch was part of the Berlin school of sculpture.
Notice Frederick in military uniform. He wears an ermine coat and tricorne hat. He sits on horseback. Below him are leading generals, statesmen, artists, and scientists. They all lived during his time.
During World War II, the Horse Rider Memorial Statue was walled in. This was for protection. In 1950, East Germany disassembled it. They reassembled it in Sanssouci Park in 1963. In 1980, it returned to its original location.
King Frederick William III commissioned the monument. He wanted Christian Daniel Rauch to create it in 1839. Karl Ludwig Friebel cast it beginning in 1845. Rauch brought Friebel from Lauchhammer. Changes to the base figures extended work to six years. The monument was unveiled on May 31, 1851. It influenced other monuments. These were erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Beneath the Horse Rider Memorial Statue is a large plinth. It includes reliefs of the four cardinal virtues. It also shows important scenes from Frederick’s life. Depictions of 74 notable men from his reign are present. Bronze plaques list military men, philosophers, and mathematicians. Poets, statesmen, and engineers are also listed. These men were important in Prussia’s emergence as a great power. This happened in the mid-18th century.
In May 1950, East Berlin decided to remove the monument. It was moved to Sanssouci in Potsdam. Metal thieves damaged it after the casing was removed. It was dismantled and taken away between July 13 and 19. It was stored in pieces. By 1962, the monument was re-erected at Charlottenhof Palace.
In the 1980s, East Germany changed its politics. They changed their position on Prussian heritage. In 1980, Erich Honecker called Frederick “the Great”. The statue was restored. It returned to Unter den Linden. It was about 6 meters east of its old position.
After German reunification, the Senate of Berlin restored the monument. It was replaced in its original position. The wrought-iron fence and lamp posts were recreated. In 2006, paint was thrown at it during a protest. It was restored again. A wax coating protects against graffiti.
The Horse Rider Memorial Statue is 13.5 meters tall. The equestrian statue is 5.66 meters high. Frederick wears his decorations. He holds the reins in his left hand. In his right, he has a walking stick.
The plinth is 7.84 meters high. It bears two bands of sculpture. The upper section shows scenes from the king’s life. The middle depicts 74 great men from Frederick the Great’s time.
The Horse Rider Memorial Statue faces east. It is at the west end of the former Forum Fridericianum. It is enclosed by a wrought-iron fence.
The upper sculpted band shows scenes from Frederick’s life. The middle band depicts 74 men of Frederick the Great’s time. Some are free-standing. Others are in high relief.
Four figures stand at the corners. They are Prince Henry of Prussia. Also, Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz and Hans Joachim von Zieten.
Between the mounted figures are 25 key men of Frederick’s career. These include military men and civilians. There are diplomats, jurists, poets, artists, and philosophers.
The south face displays bronze plaques. These plaques list the names of 25 generals. The north face contains the names of 32 key military figures. The west face includes 14 men. They contributed to the Prussian state. They were diplomats, authors, and jurists. Architects, painters, and poets are also included.
The east face bears the names of Frederick the Great. Also Frederick William III, and Frederick William IV. It includes the dates the monument was commissioned and completed.