Wingolf monument

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wingolf monument

The Wingolfsdenkmal , located on Pfarrberg in the center of Eisenach , is the central place of remembrance of the fallen of the Wingolfsbund , the oldest umbrella organization of Christian student associations . Originally erected to commemorate the fallen friars in the Franco-German War in 1870/71, it now also commemorates the victims of the two world wars. In 2003, the monument, including the staircase, was extensively renovated.

Information board at the Wingolfsdenkmal

Location and layout

The Wingolfsdenkmal is located at the southern end of the Eisenacher Pfarrberg. The staircase connects the streets Pfarrberg and Domstraße . The actual monument stands at the point where the ascent divides into two separate stairs to the left and right.

Between the stairs there is a semi-circular natural stone wall to which a massive stone slab is attached. The stone slab is adorned with a cross and, today, the inscription: “ His dead 1870–1871 / 1914–1918 / 1939–1945. The wingolf. "

There is an information board on the right-hand side of the staircase that provides information about the history of the monument.

history

Eisenach and Wingolf have had a common history for over 160 years. Wingolf associations met here as early as 1850 for their first Wartburg Festival . Since then, the Wingolf has celebrated its national festival, the so-called Wartburg Festival of Wingolf, in the city every two years , with interruptions, for example at the time of the division of Germany .

After the Franco-Prussian War, there were considerations within the Wingolf, just like other student associations, to erect a memorial for the fallen federal brothers. This monument was supposed to be in Eisenach so that it could be included in the life of Wingolf during the federal festivals. After a short construction period, the first Wingolf monument was inaugurated on May 25, 1899. The monument came from a design by the sculptor Friedrich Pfannschmidt . It consisted of a large genius figure who, attached to the wall, watched over the Wingolf's coat of arms . The following inscription was attached: “ To the brothers who fell in 1870/71, the fighters for Germany's unity and greatness. The Wingolfbund. "

In the 1920s, the Wingolf wished to commemorate those who died in the First World War at a memorial in Eisenach. Originally, other locations in downtown Eisenach were considered for this new monument. In the end, however, it was decided to modify the existing monument. The remodeled monument was unveiled on May 20, 1932. Instead of the genius, it showed a simple cross and the inscription: “ His dead 1870–1871 / 1914–1918. The wingolf. “The basic structure of this implementation, based on a design by the sculptor Brüllmann from Stuttgart, has been preserved to this day.

Since the reunification of Germany, the Wingolfsbund meets regularly every two years for the national festival in Eisenach since 1991. Also in 1991, the memorial was supplemented with the dates " 1939–1945 " in order to include those who died in the Second World War .

Since the extensive renovation in 2003, which was only possible through extensive donations from the ranks of the Wingolfites (members of Wingolf), the monument has been in good condition again. In the course of the renovation, the entire staircase was renewed so that it can once again serve as a shortcut to the southern district for visitors and residents of Eisenach . The construction project cost a total of 540,000 €, the city's own contribution of 10% was raised by the Wingolf through donations, the remaining funds came from public funding.

The information board placed next to the memorial was renewed in 2010 after the board placed in 2003 was damaged.

Memorial of the dead

At the commemorations of the dead, carried out after the solemn celebration as part of the series of festivities of the Wartburg Festival of Wingolf , Wingolf commemorates the Federal Brothers who died in the Franco-German War, in the First and Second World Wars. When organizing the celebration, the Wingolfsbund takes into account all victims of these wars. Remembrance of the dead is deliberately not in the tradition of honoring warriors. Wingolf opposes historical revisionism and expressly distances itself from nationalism and right-wing radicalism.

See also

literature

  • Verband Alter Wingolfiten , Hrsg .: History of Wingolfs 1830–1994. , Manfred Wieltsch et al., Detmold 1998, series from the Wingolf, Edition Piccolo.

Web links

Commons : Wingolfdenkmal  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Article Wingolf monument on www.eisenach.de , publisher: Stadtverwaltung der Wartburgstadt Eisenach, Lord Mayor Matthias Doht, official website of the city of Eisenach (accessed on February 18, 2011).
  2. ↑ a b Article Wingolf monument completed after renovation on www.eisenachonline.de , from November 22, 2003, Internet portal operated by IGV GmbH, ViSdP Karl-Heinz Brack (accessed on February 18, 2011).
  3. ^ Wingolfsblätter , Verband Alter Wingolfiten Hrsg., The story made legible , p. 249, issue 4/2010, 129th year, article therein taken from the Thuringian newspaper of October 2, 2010.
  4. ↑ 71st Wartburg Festival of the Wingolfsbund on www.eisenachonline.de , from May 15, 2007 (accessed on February 18, 2011).

Coordinates: 50 ° 58 ′ 23.7 ″  N , 10 ° 19 ′ 4 ″  E