Armed with only a bar, he supposedly stoved in the gates of Belgrade. That’s the legend of the Schmied-von-Kochel-Denkmal. This monument with a fountain is one of the most beautiful sites in Munich-Sendling. It commemorates Baltes, the Smith of Kochel.
It was built in the early 20th century. The Schmied-von-Kochel-Denkmal stands at the upper end of Lindwurmstrasse. It is located at the corner of Plinganserstrasse across from the old Sendling church.
The stepped structure features the Schmied von Kochel figure. There is also a fountain connecting Lindwurmstrasse to Lipowskystrasse via a flight of stairs. Lipowskystrasse is now known as Daumillerweg. Carl Sattler designed this architectural gem in collaboration with sculptor Karl Ebbinghaus. Construction took place from 1906 to 1911. The Schmied-von-Kochel-Denkmal blends into the slope and street layout.
On August 12 1911, the monument was inaugurated. It was met with great applause from the citizens and founders of the Sendling community. They gifted it to the public.
The bronze figure of the Smith of Kochel is 2.60 meters high. It came from the Noack foundry in Munich. He wears only a leather apron. In his left hand, he holds a heavy flag over his shoulder. His right hand holds a Morgenstern inclined downwards. A Morgenstern is a type of club.
An inscription on the right-side embankment wall reads: “To the heroic defenders of the fatherland from the Bavarian Highlands and their allies, the carpenters from the Au. Then to the Munich citizens Joh. Jäger, Councilor. Joh. Sebastian Senser, Councilor. And Johann Georg Khindler as well as the Electoral Bavarian officers Johann Clanze and Johann Georg Aberle who sealed their loyalty to the prince, fatherland, and father city through death. In everlasting memory.”
Inscriptions on the front above the fountain basin read “In memory of the Upper Bavarian national uprising and the Sendling Farmers’ Battle 1705.”
On the back at the base of the pedestal, at the top edge of the slope, you can read “Donated by the city of Munich in 1906 on the occasion of the II centenary of the Sendling Farmers’ Battle”.
Historical research suggests the Smith of Kochel might be more legend than reality. He is seen as a symbol to make the revolt’s defeat more bearable. Balthasar Mayer, born in 1644 in Waalkirchen, existed. But there’s no proof he was a smith in Kochel. A Balthasar Riesenberger from Bach bei Holzolling fought in Sendling. However, there’s no proof he was a smith in Kochel either. Kochel belonged to the court district of Murnau during the revolt. Murnau did not participate in the Oberländer rebellion. This also speaks against the Kochel theory.
In memory of the Sendling Christmas Massacre and the Smith of Kochel, Bavaria holds regular pageants and events. The Schmied-von-Kochel-Denkmal stands not just as a sculpture. It is a reminder of Bavaria’s spirit of resistance and its rich cultural history.