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Karl Marx Monument

The Karl Marx Monument in Frankfurt (Oder) is a memorial created in 1968 to honor Karl Marx. It stands at the edge of Lennépark on Karl-Marx-Straße. Designed by Arnd Wittig with city architect Manfred Vogler, the ensemble features a bust of Marx about 1.20 meters high on a three-step raised terrace. Behind it stands a roughly 9-meter-high stele bearing Wittig’s adapted Marx quote, "The theory became material force." The bust was based on a bronze cast made from Fritz Cremer’s 1954 work. The monument was inaugurated on 5 May 1968, on Marx’s 150th birthday, and is now protected as a listed monument. It was renovated in 2021, when the surrounding area was reduced to better integrate it into Lennépark.

Karl Marx Monument showing a dark bust of a bearded man on a tall stone pedestal.
The Karl Marx Monument stands on a tall pedestal in an outdoor park setting.
December 2025 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Karl Marx bust on a tall concrete pedestal in a snowy outdoor setting.
The Karl Marx Monument stands on a weathered pedestal amid snow and bare trees.
March 2006 © · CC BY 3.0
Karl Marx Monument with a dark bust on a pedestal in front of a tall concrete stele.
The Karl Marx Monument in Lennépark, featuring a dark bust on a light pedestal before a tall concrete stele.
December 2025 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Karl Marx Monument showing a dark bust of a bearded man beside a tall stone stele with German text.
Karl Marx Monument in Lennépark, with a bust on a pedestal next to a inscribed stone stele.
December 2025 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Karl Marx Monument with a carved stone stele and a dark bust on a pedestal in a park setting.
Karl Marx Monument in Frankfurt (Oder), showing a carved stele beside a bust on a pedestal.
December 2025 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleKarl Marx monument
SubjectKarl Marx
TypeMonument

Location and ownership

Current locationOn the edge of Lennépark on Karl-Marx-Straße, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
Planned locationAt the northern access to the central area of the city, on the wide magistrale (Karl-Marx-Straße)
Heritage statusProtected as a historic monument; included in the monument list of the state of Brandenburg

Historical context

Created1968
PurposeCreated in memory of Karl Marx
City decision date7 February 1968
Street name historyKarl-Marx-Straße since 14 July 1952

Creator

Inscription designerArnd Wittig
Ensemble designersArnd Wittig and city architect Manfred Vogler
Selected design byArnd Wittig
Bust sculptorFritz Cremer

Discovery and provenance

Existing sculpture reusedBronze bust already owned by the city, originally created in 1954 by Fritz Cremer

Physical characteristics

TerraceThree-step elevated terrace
Support structureColumn/stele about 9 meters high behind the bust
Bust heightAbout 1.20 meters
Main elementBronze bust of Karl Marx

Materials

Construction materials and workStele and base made by VEB Betonwerk; masonry carried out by VEB Baureparaturen; retaining wall made of prefabricated elements built by the company Lemm

Appearance

InscriptionDie Theorie wurde zur materiellen Gewalt (altered Marx quotation)

History and restoration

CompletionCompleted on time despite the short construction period
Inauguration dateMorning of 5 May 1968
Inauguration occasionInaugurated for Karl Marx's 150th birthday
RenovationRenovated in 2021
2021 renovation effectArea around the monument reduced to better integrate it into Lennépark