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Bismarck Memorial (Berlin)

Bismarck Memorial (Berlin)

Reinhold Begas

Photo: Taxiarchos228 · FAL · Wikimedia Commons

Location
Großer Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany
Client / Owner
Unknown
Year
Completed 1901
Access
Public
Typology
Cultural
Style
—

The Bismarck Memorial in Berlin is a sculpture group by Reinhold Begas, unveiled in 1901. It honors Otto von Bismarck, Minister President of Prussia and first Chancellor of the German Empire. It originally stood on Königsplatz, in front of the Reichstag building. In 1938 Adolf Hitler ordered it moved as part of his plan to recast Berlin as the world capital Germania. It now stands in the Großer Tiergarten.

Bismarck appears in ceremonial garb as Chancellor, standing above four allegorical figures. A kneeling Atlas represents Germany's world power status at the end of the 19th century. Siegfried forging a sword represents industrial and military might. Germania with a panther underfoot stands for the suppression of discord and rebellion. A sibyl reclining on a sphinx reads the book of history.

It is one of about 250 memorials to Bismarck worldwide. The memorial took shrapnel damage in World War II but is largely intact today.

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