German Patriot Association
The German Patriots Association for the erection of a monument to the battle of the nations near Leipzig is an association founded on April 26, 1894 by the architect Clemens Thieme to ensure that the monument to the battle of the people was erected in Leipzig .
History of origin
The Battle of Nations near Leipzig , which is considered to be the end of the Wars of Liberation , was the largest battle in world history at the time, with over 520,000 soldiers involved. For the 50th anniversary on October 19, 1863, two foundation plates were laid for the erection of a monument to the battle of the nations, with great public interest. The position was about 800 meters north of the current location. But the enthusiasm ebbed due to a lack of precise planning and sufficient funds and only the founding of the German Patriot Association on April 26, 1894 ensured implementation.
tasks
With the founding of the federal government, Thieme wanted to bundle the funds of all national associations and clubs in order to finally implement the monument building and advertise it. The board consisted of representatives of the gymnastics, military, singing and shooting clubs and a representative of the bourgeois press. This broad thematic spread enabled a wide range throughout the German Empire . Just a year after it was founded, the federal government had 45,000 members. The main task was to collect donations. Although ultimately not financed exclusively by this, the sheer number of members testified that there was a national interest in the implementation of the monument. The contact with the increasing number of members was maintained through events and lectures as well as through the newspaper Mitteilungen des Deutschen Patrioten-Bund (German Patriots Association) , which is published twice a month . The first groundbreaking for the construction of the monument, which was erected according to plans by Bruno Schmitz , finally took place on October 18, 1898. Further financing was provided by the lottery founded in 1903 and from 1909 the proceeds came from viewing the not yet inaugurated Völkerschlachtdenkmal its completion benefit. By this time the Patriot Association had over 90,000 members, the most committed of whom were immortalized in the crypt of the monument in portraits made by well-known sculptors. The name of every further donor who donated at least 100 gold marks is engraved on one of several brass plates that are also located in the crypt.
After completion
When the memorial was inaugurated on October 18, 1913, the hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Nations, the association was renamed the German Patriot Association for the Preservation of the Monument to the Battle of the Nations and from then on organized tours, souvenir sales and memorial concerts. The association expired in 1949.
After 1913, Clemens Thieme wanted to build another arena at the monument, which again lacked the financial means. The establishment of a second German Patriot Association was implemented on May 27, 1920. However, the consequences of inflation made it impossible to accumulate sufficient financial resources, and the German Patriot Association for the construction of a battle arena was dissolved on October 24, 1939.
At the same time, the pension, widows, orphans and support fund founded by the German Patriots Association in 1920 was converted into Clemens Thieme Stiftung e. V. renamed.
Individual evidence
- ^ State Archive Leipzig ( Memento of the original from February 4, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
