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Willy Brandt Memorial

The Willy Brandt Memorial is a bronze sculpture at Willy Brandt Place in Nuremberg, created in memory of former Federal Chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Willy Brandt. The sculpture shows him sitting on a bench. It was opened on 9 November 2009 in the presence of Ulrich Maly, Josef Tabachnyk, and several contemporaries of Brandt, including Hans-Jochen Vogel. The memorial was designed by sculptor Josef Tabachnyk, who won a competition for the project on 6 November 2008 against three other competitors. The work was financed by three sponsors: Walter Metz, Bruno Schnell, and PSD Bank. The city council of Nuremberg covered the construction costs for installing the sculpture and its foundations.

Willy Brandt Memorial bronze statue of a seated man in a suit on a bench, with tall dry grasses behind it.
The Willy Brandt Memorial shows a seated bronze figure on a bench, with the name plaque visible on the side.
November 2009 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Willy Brandt memorial bronze statue seated on a wooden bench outdoors
The Willy Brandt Memorial shows a seated bronze figure on a wooden bench in a park setting.
August 2025 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Willy Brandt Memorial bronze statue of a seated man on a long bench outdoors.
The Willy Brandt Memorial shows a seated bronze figure on a long bench in an urban setting.
April 2006 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Weathered bronze plaque from the Willy Brandt Memorial with engraved German text and names.
A close-up of the Willy Brandt Memorial shows a weathered bronze plaque with engraved German text.
August 2025 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleWilly Brandt Memorial
Original German nameWilly-Brandt-Denkmal
TypeMemorial sculpture

Historical context

Subject commemoratedWilly Brandt, former Federal Chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Creator

SculptorJosef Tabachnyk
Competition invitation decisionOn 4 June 2008, the Cultural Committee of the City of Nuremberg decided to invite a limited number of artists to participate in the competition
Competition resultJosef Tabachnyk won the memorial competition on 6 November 2008, defeating three other competitors

Location and ownership

LocationWilly-Brandt-Platz, Nuremberg, Germany
Financing sponsorsWalter Metz, Bruno Schnell, and PSD Bank
City contributionThe City of Nuremberg covered the construction and foundation costs for installing the memorial

Materials

MaterialBronze

Physical characteristics

Depicted formA seated figure on a bench

History and restoration

Unveiling date9 November 2009
Unveiled in the presence ofUlrich Maly, Josef Tabachnyk, and numerous contemporaries of Willy Brandt, including Hans-Jochen Vogel