The Hermann Monument

1 - The small state of Lippe was once an independent country. It was ruled by princes who lived in a castle in Detmold. Today, Lippe is part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It mainly covers the district of Lippe; the beautiful city of Detmold is the district capital and the main town of an administrative district. There is still a prince, but today the state is governed by elected politicians. The Lippe Rose appears on the state’s coat of arms.

2 - Near Detmold, on a ridge in the Teutoburg Forest, stands a monument. It is 53.46 metres high in total. The lower part consists of a base, a row of brick columns and a dome. Above it stands a statue of Arminius, a leader of the Germanic tribes. He and his warriors are said to have defeated three Roman legions in the famous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD.

3 - Arminius was his Latin name. In German he is called Hermann; the name probably originated as a term meaning “man of the army.” Today, the monument in the Teutoburg Forest is known as the Hermannsdenkmal.

4 - It was built here, even though to this day it is not known exactly where the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place. Many scholars believe it probably happened near Kalkriese, close to Osnabrück. This is about 100 kilometres north of the Hermannsdenkmal.

5 - The figure of Arminius, or Hermann, is 26.57 metres tall. It is meant to depict a Germanic leader at the time of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. The sword held aloft is 7 metres long and weighs 550 kilograms. The shield is 10 metres tall and weighs 1,150 kilograms. The figure is estimated to weigh 42,800 kilograms in total.

6 - Construction of the monument took a long time. Work began in 1838, and it was not completed until 38 years later, on 16 August 1875. The plans were drawn up by the sculptor Ernst von Bandel, who also oversaw the work. A lot had changed in Germany during construction. At first, there were still 41 states, which had joined together to form the “German Confederation.” This later became the “North German Confederation.” These states were ruled by kings and princes. In 1870, these German rulers went to war against France. The German troops won, and the “German Empire” was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, west of Paris.

The king of Prussia stood at the head of this new empire and now called himself emperor. Emperor Wilhelm I attended the inauguration of the Hermann Monument in August 1875. The spot where the emperor is said to have stood is still marked by a plaque today. For many people at the time, the monument was also a way to celebrate victory over France. Hermann points his sword threateningly westward, where France lies far away.

7 - After the two world wars of the 20th century, which claimed many lives in France, Germany and Europe, this way of thinking has fortunately been overcome. Today, the Hermannsdenkmal is more of a reminder to learn from history and to overcome war and disregard for other peoples.