Did the Pionierbataillon von Rauch War memorial always stand here so stoically? Here in Berlin, this memorial holds a story more complex than its granite facade suggests. The Pionierbataillon von Rauch War memorial commemorates the fallen soldiers of the Pionier-Bataillon von Rauch Nr. 3, a Prussian pioneer battalion with a history dating back to 1741. The battalion served in Spandau and was under the command of the III. Armee-Korps. The memorial itself, a striking structure of granite blocks, bears inscriptions dedicated to the memory of these soldiers. The main inscription reads “1914 1918 / PIONIER-BATAILLON / VON RAUCH / SEINEN GEFALLENEN / ZUM GEDÄCHTNIS” (1914 1918 / PIONEER BATTALION / VON RAUCH / TO ITS FALLEN / IN REMEMBRANCE). A bronze plaque on the rear further lists the casualties: 70 officers, 238 non-commissioned officers, and 1564 privates and pioneers. It declares they fell, true to their oath, for king and country. The story of the Pionierbataillon von Rauch War memorial is one of delayed commemoration. Originally, the Kameradschaftliche Vereinigung der Offiziere (Veteran’s Association) sought permission to erect the memorial in 1922. Designs were submitted by sculptor Wilhelm Wandschneider and architect Johannes Glöcer. The construction, handled by E. Haertner, a Spandau based company, was approved. The unveiling was set for June 25, 1922. However, the assassination of Walther Rathenau, a prominent German politician, the day before led to its postponement. The memorial’s dedication eventually occurred on October 12, 1935. Whether this was the inauguration of the entire monument or just the bronze plaque remains unclear. Current research suggests the entire monument was dedicated in 1935. The Pionierbataillon von Rauch itself has a long and distinguished history, participating in conflicts including the Seven Years’ War, the Napoleonic Wars, the Franco-Prussian War, and World War I.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to