Equestrian Monument (Windhoek)

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Equestrian monument
National monument in Namibia Flag of Namibia.svg
Windhoek Alte Feste inner courtyard Südwester-Reiter 5.jpg
Monument type Equestrian monument
location Windhoek
Geographic coordinates : 22 ° 34 ′ 7 ″  S , 17 ° 5 ′ 16 ″  E Coordinates: 22 ° 34 ′ 7 ″  S , 17 ° 5 ′ 16 ″  E
Equestrian Monument (Windhoek) (Namibia)
Red pog.svg
Emergence January 27, 1912
Recognized
by the National Heritage Council 		2nd January 1969
Deprivation July 31, 2014
Sponsorship Namibian National Museum
Website NHC Namibia

The equestrian monument (also Südwester Reiter ) is an equestrian statue in Windhoek and stood in front of the Alte Feste on Robert Mugabe Avenue (formerly Leutweinstraße) until it was dismantled on December 25, 2013 . The equestrian monument was inaugurated on January 27, 1912 and is intended to commemorate the colonial wars of the German Empire against the Herero and Nama from 1903 to 1907 in German South West Africa .

description

The equestrian statue designed by the Berlin sculptor Adolf Kuerle shows a larger than life Schutztruppen rider in uniform. In his left hand he holds the reins of his horse, who is standing still, and in his right hand he grasps a rifle which he rests on his thigh. The bronze rider stands on a pedestal made of rough granite blocks. The statue is 4.5 meters high, the total height was 9.5 meters. A dedication plaque is embedded in the front of the base listing the victims of the colonial wars on the German side.

Inscription on the dedication plaque

Inscription on the dedication plaque

“ In honor of the brave German warriors who lost their lives for the emperor and empire to save and preserve this land during the Herero and Hottentot uprisings from 1903 to 1907 and during the Kalahari expedition in 1908. In honor of the memory of the German citizens who fell victim to the natives in the uprising. Fallen, missing, had an accident, killed their wounds and died of diseases, from the Schutztruppe: officers 100, NCOs 254, riders 1180, from the Navy: officers 7, NCOs 13, teams 72, slain in the uprising: men 119, women 4, Children 1. "

history

reception

In general, the monument was in controversial view and discussion, as it is seen as a symbol of the German colonial era. In the past, it has been the target of several campaigns such as putting up a Namibia flag.

Deproquation 2014

The Namibian Monument Council announced its proposal in two daily newspapers on December 20 to revoke the status of a national monument (proclaimed on January 2, 1969) from the rider . This withdrawal was announced on July 31, 2014. At the last location, a new base was erected at the beginning of March 2014 with statues of two people who are supposed to commemorate the colonial war.

move

The monument was dismantled on August 20, 2009 because the new building of the Namibian Independence Museum is being built on this historic site . The memorial was supposed to be demolished and destroyed, although at the time it had the legal status of a national monument . The German Cultural Council then initiated and organized a move on its own. The postponement was still controversial. In a survey of 1,427 colored people, 87% spoke out against moving and in favor of keeping the monument. The move cost a total of N $ 773,000 in tangible and monetary values.

At its new location, 100 meters further south in front of the main entrance of the Alte Feste , the equestrian memorial was inaugurated again on November 14, 2010.

Another move

Erection of a new statue at the second location of the equestrian monument (February 2014)

On the occasion of Heroes' Day on August 26, 2013, President Pohamba recommended the final dismantling of the equestrian monument. Since two statues are to be built by the North Korean construction company Mansudae Overseas Projects at the current location of the equestrian monument , the equestrian monument is to move again. This time it is to be moved to the inner courtyard of the Alte Feste .

The statue was dismantled again under strict security measures on the evening of December 25, 2013 and then transported to the also cordoned off courtyard of the Alte Feste. There it should be placed in a corner on a concrete surface. The base was destroyed in the following days, the memorial plaque damaged by heavy equipment and also taken to the inner courtyard. At least 2,200 objections were received by the Namibian Monument Council within the objection period for the revocation of the status as a national monument.

While the desire for a new transfer met with understanding from critics, the surprising nightly action caused outrage under a large police presence.

On September 1, 2014, the rebuilding of the Alte Feste was confirmed as a simple museum piece by the Namibian Monument Council.

gallery

  • Monument at the original location

  • Equestrian monument in front of the old fortress

  • Equestrian monument with Independence Memorial Museum (under construction) at its original location

  • Equestrian monument at its new location (2012)

  • Current (2014) view of the historical location of the equestrian monument (now with statue of Sam Nujoma )

literature

  • Namibia Scientific Society (Hrsg.): Reiterdenkmal - 1912–2014 - A chronological documentation based on reports, newspaper articles and picture material. Kuiseb Verlag, 2014, ISBN 978-99945-76-24-1 ( online )

Web links

Commons : Reiterdenkmal Windhoek  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ NHC Namibia: Deproklamation the Namibian Memorial Council ( Memento of 12 November 2017 Internet Archive ) , accessed on July 6, 2018
  2. ↑ freiburg-postkolonial.de: The equestrian monument in Windhoek (Namibia) , accessed on July 6, 2018
  3. ↑ Allgemeine Zeitung: Rider decorated with a flag ( memento of October 27, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) , October 24, 2008; accessed on July 6, 2018
  4. ^ NHC Namibia: Monument Proclamation ( Memento of July 6, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) , accessed on July 6, 2018
  5. ↑ National Heritage Council of Namibia: Notice of Removal of Equestrian Statue Monument as National Monument from National Heritage Register, National Heritage Act 2004 , July 31, 2014, No. 274
  6. ↑ namibiansun.com: Historic Museum Nears Completion , December 29, 2011; accessed on July 6, 2018
  7. ↑ Allgemeine Zeitung: Stillbild in Windhoek is now moving ( Memento from August 21, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) , accessed on July 6, 2018
  8. ↑ Allgemeine Zeitung: Not enthusiastic ( Memento of November 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) , August 19, 2009, accessed on July 6, 2018
  9. ↑ Allgemeine Zeitung: Teurer Umzug ( Memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) , May 5, 2010, accessed on July 6, 2018
  10. ↑ Allgemeine Zeitung: Reiterdenkmal inaugurated at the new location ( memento from September 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) , November 15, 2010; accessed on July 6, 2018
  11. ↑ Allgemeine Zeitung: The rider must go ( Memento from September 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) , August 27, 2013; accessed on July 6, 2018
  12. ↑ Allgemeine Zeitung: Compromise on the equestrian monument ( memento from April 25, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) , October 22, 2013; accessed on July 6, 2018
  13. ^ Hitradio Namibia: Nachrichten am Morgen ( Memento from December 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) , December 26, 2013; Retrieved December 26, 2013
  14. ↑ a b Allgemeine Zeitung: Damaged memorial plaque in the Alte Feste ( memento from January 8, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) , January 8, 2014; accessed on January 8, 2014
  15. ↑ Hitradio Namibia: Nachrichten am Morgen ( Memento from March 15, 2014 in the web archive archive.today ) , February 18, 2014; accessed on March 15, 2014
  16. ^ Allgemeine Zeitung: Namibians express astonishment and horror , December 27, 2013; Retrieved December 28, 2013
  17. ^ The Namibian: Three new heritage sites proclaimed , September 2, 2014; accessed on July 6, 2018