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Ernst Thälmann Memorial

Ernst Thälmann Memorial is a monument installed in Berlin, Germany, in honor of Ernst Thälmann, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Germany from 1925 to 1933. Thälmann was killed in August 1944 after more than eleven years of solitary confinement, reportedly on Adolf Hitler’s direct order. The monument was erected in the Prenzlauer Berg district on 15 April 1986, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Thälmann’s birth and marking the preparations for the opening of the 11th SED Congress and Ernst-Thälmann-Park. It was created by Soviet sculptor Lev Kerbel between 1981 and 1986 at the request of the Central Committee of the SED.

Ernst Thälmann Memorial bronze bust with a clenched fist and banner-like sculpture on a pedestal in a snowy urban setting.
The Ernst Thälmann Memorial rises on a pedestal in a snowy Berlin courtyard, with apartment buildings in the background.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Ernst Thälmann Memorial bronze bust on a graffiti-covered pedestal with a flag-like sculpture behind it.
The Ernst Thälmann Memorial in Berlin, shown with its bronze bust, dramatic backdrop, and graffiti-marked base.
© · CC BY 2.0
Ernst Thälmann Memorial in a wide public square with apartment buildings behind it and people walking nearby.
The Ernst Thälmann Memorial stands in a large plaza in Berlin with residential buildings in the background.
May 1986 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ernst Thälmann Memorial showing the statue’s head and clenched fist against a textured background
Close-up of the Ernst Thälmann Memorial, showing the head and clenched fist of the statue.
March 2018 © · CC BY 2.0
Two inscribed plaques from the Ernst Thälmann Memorial, one marked with orange graffiti, against a brick wall with arched windows.
Inscribed plaques from the Ernst Thälmann Memorial, displayed indoors with graffiti on the right-hand panel.
September 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleErnst Thälmann Memorial
Typememorial monument / colossal statue
SubjectErnst Thälmann
Original German nameErnst-Thälmann-Denkmal

Historical context

Occasion for installation100th anniversary of Thälmann's birth
Context of installationInstalled during preparations for the opening of the XI Party Congress of the SED and the opening of Ernst-Thälmann-Park
Historical significanceBecame a site of official state remembrance culture in the GDR; memorial events were held there, especially on Thälmann's birthday and death day
Death date mentioned18 August 1944
Subject's deathKilled in August 1944 after more than eleven years of solitary confinement, supposedly by direct order of Adolf Hitler
Person honoredErnst Thälmann, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) from 1925 to 1933
Birth date mentioned16 April 1886

Creator

SculptorLev Kerbel
Nationality of sculptorSoviet

Discovery and provenance

Creation period1981–1986
Casting locationVEB Schwermaschinenbau Lauchhammerwerk (Heavy Machinery Plant Lauchhammer)
Special production facilitiesA special 18-meter casting machine and an 18 × 18 meter, 15-meter-high workshop were built for production; the workshop was later reused as a gymnasium
Number of plaster elements for casting molds277
Delivery of finished bronze formsAugust to October 1984
Bronze casting impactThe monument consumed the entire annual bronze production of the GDR, preventing other sculptors from having bronze castings made during production
Commissioned bythe Central Committee of the SED
Preparatory work beganFebruary 1982

History and restoration

Added inscriptionIn the mid-1990s private individuals added the slogan 'Imprisoned, Murdered, Smeared' in protest
Post-2022 maintenanceIn June 2022, the Pankow district office said it would no longer clean the monument because removing graffiti was too expensive
2013 protestIn 2013, the Young Liberals announced they would blow up the monument and held a rally with symbolic sticks of dynamite
Cleaning by citySince 2006, the city of Berlin has paid for cleaning
Protection and advocacy groupThe Aktionsbündnis Thälmann-Denkmal, founded in 2000, includes members from left-wing and far-left parties and organizations and holds two rallies per year while cleaning the monument
Removal of flanking elementsThe bronze steles were dismantled and stored in July 1990; the district council of Prenzlauer Berg ordered the removal on 11 July 1990
Condition in later yearsThe monument fell into disrepair and became covered with graffiti
Public discussionA 1993 conference in Prenzlauer Berg on alternatives to demolition produced no result
Post-reunification debateAfter reunification, a historians' commission recommended demolition and the Berlin Senate decided demolition in 1993, but the plan was not carried out because of high costs
Unveiling date15 April 1986
Installation date15 April 1986
Recent vandalismIn November 2024, the memorial was smeared with slogans and symbols by sympathizers of Hamas
Assembly completedNovember 1985
Final finishing completedFebruary 1986

Location and ownership

Heritage protectionIn 2014, the Berlin Senate placed the park ensemble of residential buildings and memorial under heritage protection
LocationGreifswalder Straße, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
Area of site3,800 square meters
SettingA gently sloping square facing Greifswalder Straße
Specific siteErnst-Thälmann-Park
Current location of flanking elementsZitadelle Spandau, in the exhibition 'Enthüllt. Berlin und seine Denkmäler' since 1992

Physical characteristics

Number of parts272 separate parts
Weight50 tons
Total height of pedestal50 meters
Pedestal dimensions8.05 × 3.35 × 4.63 m
Width15 meters
Height14 meters

Materials

Pedestal materialUkrainian granite
Main materialbronze

Appearance

InterpretationThälmann is symbolically generalized and portrayed as an eternal revolutionary
Associated symbolA stylized workers' red flag behind him
Inscription on the other steleMein Leben und Wirken kannte und kennt nur eines: für das schaffende deutsche Volk meinen Geist und meinen Willen / meine Erfahrungen und meine Tatkraft / ja mein Ganzes / die Persönlichkeit zum Besten der deutschen Zukunft für den siegreichen sozialistischen Freiheitskampf im neuen Völkerfrühling der deutschen Nation einzusetzen!
Meaning of one stele inscriptionIn the process of building socialism in the German Democratic Republic, a worthy monument is erected to Ernst Thälmann, a brave fighter for freedom, humanity, and social progress of our people.
Inscription on one steleMit der Gestaltung des Sozialismus in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik setzen wir Ernst Thälmann / dem kühnen Streiter für Freiheit / Menschlichkeit und sozialen Fortschritt unseres Volkes / ein würdiges Denkmal.
Former placement of flanking elementsAt the sides of the forecourt
Flanking elementsTwo bronze steles on granite pedestals
Inscription styleCapital letters
Inscriptions on pedestalFront: Ernst Thälmann; sides: Rotfront
Meaning of the other stele inscriptionAll my life and work knew and know only one thing: to devote my spirit and will, my experience and energy, and my entire being to the benefit of Germany's future in the victorious socialist struggle for freedom in the new springtime of the German nation.
Central formBust of Thälmann
Depiction of ThälmannHe wears the blouse of the Rotfrontkämpferbund and raises his right fist in salute

Other

NicknamesIn East Berlin popular speech, it was also called the 'Ernst-Lehmann-Denkmal', an acronym formed from 'Lenin' and 'Thälmann' due to the similarity of Thälmann's face to Lenin
Winning projectVom Sockel denken by Berlin artist and filmmaker Betina Kuntzsch, awarded first place with a recommendation for realization
Film recognitionNominated in three categories at DOK Leipzig 2021
Related filmKOPF FAUST FAHNE - Perspectives on the Thälmann Memorial
Public opening18 November 2021
Project conceptIt reduces the granite pedestal and adds five colored concrete elements for sitting or lingering, with 10 short documentary films accessible via QR codes and a dedicated website
Artistic commentary competitionIn 2019, the Pankow district office held a competition for an artistic commentary on the memorial; the budget was €180,000
Earlier unrealized related monumentA long-planned Ernst Thälmann monument conceived by Ruthild Hahne was never realized