“The titan of the Kiez” they called it. This nickname will give you an idea of what we are about to see. We’re standing before the Bismarck Monument, a colossal tribute to Otto von Bismarck. He was the first Chancellor of the German Empire.
The Bismarck Monument is one of 240 memorials to Bismarck worldwide. This is the largest and best-known of these Bismarck towers. It stands near the jetties of Hamburg port on the Elbhöhe. Today, the Elbhöhe is a local recreation area.
It is huge. The monument is approximately 35 meters high. That is 115 feet. It weighs 600 tons. That is about 660 short tons. This makes it the world’s largest Bismarck monument.
The monument’s location was previously occupied by the Elbpavillon restaurant. The restaurant was removed in 1901. Mayor Johann Georg Mönckeberg established a citizens’ commission. They were responsible to erect the monument at the site.
The Bismarck Monument cost 500,000 Goldmarks to erect. It was completed in 1906. The building of the monument was documented by photographer Wilhelm Weimar. He worked for the Hamburg Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe.
Architect Johann Emil Schaudt designed the monument. Sculptor Hugo Lederer created the sculpture itself.
Close by is a statue of Bismarck. It is 14.8 metres high. The base brings the total height to 34.3 metres. The Iron Chancellor’s head alone measures 1.83 metres. He wields an 8-metre-long sword.
The monument’s designers created a large network of catacombs beneath it. In 1939 and 1940, they became an air-raid shelter. They offered protection for up to 650 people. The architect’s intent for the catacombs remains unknown. They, and the whole interior of the monument, are no longer accessible for safety reasons.
In the 1970s, a soldier discovered a tunnel beneath the Bismarck memorial. The soldier had served in the British army during the occupation in Germany. The tunnel led to a Nazi hideout. He contacted the Daily Mirror newspaper. They, in turn, contacted the Burgermeister in Hamburg. Authorities decided to seal it after viewing the tunnel.
The Bismarck memorial is surrounded by far-reaching catacombs. They were decorated with elaborate murals. The murals show Prussian motives and the Chancellor’s quotes.
During the war years, tourists and residents found shelter from air-raids in the catacombs. One of these attacks damaged the monument. Water was able to enter the foundation. Renovation works are still unavoidable.
The Old Elbe Park surrounds the monument. Revitalising measures include extensive work for the park. A small history museum will be installed in the vast catacombs under the monument. Both the German state and the city of Hamburg have allocated 6.5 million euros each. This money will renovate the monument and the surrounding park.
Otto von Bismarck was closely connected with the city of Hamburg. He resided before the city’s doorstep for almost 30 years. Emperor William I presented him with a large mansion in Friedrichsruh. Located conveniently in the vast Sachsenwald forest, the edifice became his retirement home. It was ultimately his final resting place.
Today, the statue is subject to criticism. This is because of Bismarck’s strong nationalist tendencies. Also his key role in German colonialism is criticised.