Window of war
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As war window is called stained glass windows , which during or after the First World War was created to commemorate the fallen soldiers, including Germany. These leaded glass windows fulfill the function of a monument and are of cultural and historical importance.
Stained glass as a war memorial
As early as after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, war windows were occasionally made, but it wasn't until the First World War that acceptance of the design of church windows as war memorials grew. In the early stages of World War I, competitions for war memorials were held. The churches were also called upon to develop ideas and the German Society for Christian Art organized a competition for war memorials in and around churches. This should promote "artistically valuable" works and kitsch and exaggerated patriotismbe prevented. In 1917 an exhibition with stained glass windows as a war memorial took place in Munich. The fact that the war windows are not uncommon is shown by the over 80 war windows made by the Binsfeld company , which were made in the Trier diocese between 1914 and 1922 . The aesthetic effect and the small footprint combined with manageable costs are likely to have contributed to its widespread use.
Windows of war were also created in other European countries such as France and Great Britain.
Placement of the war windows
The war memorial windows were usually installed as individual windows in churches and chapels and not as part of an overall concept for the glazing of a church. They are mostly located in the transept , side aisle , on the organ loft or in the sacristy , rarely in the choir or in the nave .
Subjects of the war windows
The scenic representations mostly come from the New Testament or from the legends of saints . Saints like the patron saint of the church or the Saints George , Sebastian , Mauritius , Rochus , Martin , Theodor and Bonifatius , who are associated with the war , are seen more often, as well as St. Barbara , patroness of the artillery and St. Michael as patron of the Germans. The most common representations from the Bible are: Crucifixion of Christ , Resurrection of Jesus Christ and Christ on the Mount of Olives . In addition to these Christian motifs, soldiers in uniform, praying or dying, are often depicted.
literature
- LI-PEN YU: The glass painting in Trier 1860-1930 (history and culture of the Trier region, volume 5). Kliomedia , Trier 2007, ISBN 978-3-89890-102-4 , pp. 344-362.
