War memorial (Kempten-Heiligkreuz)
The war memorial in Heiligkreuz , a parish village in the independent city of Kempten (Allgäu) , is in the local cemetery after numerous transfers.
history
In 1879, a small obelisk surrounded by two peace linden trees was erected in front of the church to commemorate the dead of the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871).
It was replaced in 1929 by a monument designed as a fountain system based on a design by Thomas Wechs , who also designed the Munich war memorial in front of the Army Museum. On top of it was the bronze figure " St. George fights the dragon" by the Augsburg sculptor Fritz Beck , which was melted down during the Second World War .
In 1955 the figure “Helping Comrade” was placed on the empty plinth.
In the course of the redesign of the church square, the war memorial was redesigned and relocated. In 1991 the figure of the “helping comrade” was transferred to the cemetery on the site of the former hero's grave. Bronze plaques with the names of 122 fallen and missing from the last three wars were also attached.
In 1996, on behalf of Ensign Willi Christen, memorial plaques made by stonemason Werner Noel were also attached to the former and renovated cemetery cross.
layout
monument
Today's monument consists of the former fountain and the figure “Helping Comrade”.
The former fountain system by Thomas Wechs serves as the base. The following lettering and a cross were carved on the front: "The community of St Lorenz - your sons who died in the wars of 1870/71 and 1914-18 and 1939-45"
The plant is filled with soil, in which two bushes have been planted. Between these two is a memorial candle and the figure of the "helping comrade". The well weighs approximately 6.5 to 7 tons.
Above the fountain stands the figure “Helping Comrade” by Karl Girlich, carved from a block of shell limestone . The statue, which weighs about a ton, shows two soldiers. The seated front man holds his chest with his left hand. His head is tilted to the left with his eyes closed. Behind this injured soldier stands a comrade who looks down at the injured man.
The following lettering can be seen under the two soldiers: "The fallen and missing of St. Lorenz "
At the same height on the sides, bronze plaques with 122 names of fallen and missing persons were placed. The cost of these tablets was around 76,000 marks.
crucifix
Opposite the memorial there is a memorial with a crucifix, at the foot of which there is the following inscription on a marble slab: "The members of the homeland who fell and missing in World War II, displaced persons and the victims of flight and displacement"
Public reaction
Memorial masses are held in the nearby pilgrimage church of Heiligkreuz on the day of national mourning .
The figure of the helping comrade was "never particularly popular" among the population. In the course of the redesign of the church square in 1990 it was discussed to use the figure of Thomas Wechs "Saint George fights against the dragon".
Individual evidence
- ↑ Heiligkreuzer Memorial in the mirror of history. In: Allgäuer Zeitung No. 129, June 7, 1991
- ↑ Reduction with wounds. In: Allgäuer Zeitung No. 125, June 1, 1990
- ↑ Kempten-Heiligkreuz (Friedhof), Bavaria In: denkmalprojekt.org (accessed on July 2, 2013)
- ↑ Kempten-Heiligkreuz, Bavaria: In: denkmalprojekt.org (accessed on July 2, 2013)
- ↑ Restore the well with St. George. In: Allgäuer Zeitung No. 143, June 24, 1988
Coordinates: 47 ° 44 ′ 57.1 ″ N , 10 ° 16 ′ 59.7 ″ E