Matrose Statue

A silent salute to resilience. That’s what the Matrose Statue stands for here in Rostock. It’s a monument that remembers a time of great upheaval, the end of World War I. Unveiled in 1977, the Matrose Statue isn’t just a statue. It’s a powerful statement made of bronze and stone. The 9-meter tall bronze figures stand atop a 20-meter long relief wall. This wall, designed by Reinhard Dietrich, depicts the struggles and aspirations of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. You might think that the Matrose Statue depicts specific people but you’d be wrong. The sculptor, Wolfgang Eckardt, fought hard against pressure from the ruling party to depict two specific sailors, Max Reichpietsch and Albin Köbis, who had been sentenced to death for their role in an earlier uprising. Instead, he chose to portray two unnamed men, without uniforms or weapons. Eckardt wanted to show that change can be achieved without resorting to violence. The Matrose Statue is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war. It’s a testament to the courage of those who stand up for what they believe in.