Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
The Monument to the Battle of the Nations, the tallest monument in Europe, was completed in 1913 for the 100th anniversary of the battle. The monument commemorates Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig. The structure is 91 metres (299 ft) tall. It contains over 500 steps to a viewing platform at the top, from which there are views across the city and environs. The structure makes extensive use of concrete, and the facings are of granite. It is widely regarded as one of the best examples of Wilhelmine architecture.
The project was commissioned to Bruno Schmitz, who chose to construct the monument over an artificial hill, and selected a pyramidal shape for a clear view of the surroundings.
The 12 metres (39 ft) main figure on the front of the memorial represents the archangel Michael, considered the "War god of Germans".
Eight large statues of fallen warriors adorn the monument.
During the Third Reich, Hitler frequently used the monument as a venue for his meetings in Leipzig.
During the period of Communist rule in East Germany from 1949 to 1989, the government of the GDR was unsure whether it should allow the monument to stand, since it was considered to represent the steadfast nationalism of the period of the German Empire. Eventually, it was decided that the monument be allowed to remain, since it represented a battle in which Russian and German soldiers had fought together against a common enemy.
Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
The Monument to the Battle of the Nations, the tallest monument in Europe, was completed in 1913 for the 100th anniversary of the battle. The monument commemorates Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig. The structure is 91 metres (299 ft) tall. It contains over 500 steps to a viewing platform at the top, from which there are views across the city and environs. The structure makes extensive use of concrete, and the facings are of granite. It is widely regarded as one of the best examples of Wilhelmine architecture.
The project was commissioned to Bruno Schmitz, who chose to construct the monument over an artificial hill, and selected a pyramidal shape for a clear view of the surroundings.
The 12 metres (39 ft) main figure on the front of the memorial represents the archangel Michael, considered the "War god of Germans".
Eight large statues of fallen warriors adorn the monument.
During the Third Reich, Hitler frequently used the monument as a venue for his meetings in Leipzig.
During the period of Communist rule in East Germany from 1949 to 1989, the government of the GDR was unsure whether it should allow the monument to stand, since it was considered to represent the steadfast nationalism of the period of the German Empire. Eventually, it was decided that the monument be allowed to remain, since it represented a battle in which Russian and German soldiers had fought together against a common enemy.