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Julius-Fučík-Denkmal

The Julius-Fučík-Denkmal, also known as the Julius Fučík memorial site, is a monument and commemorative stele in Niederschönhausen, in Berlin’s Pankow district. It stands in Bürgerpark Pankow near the corner of Heinrich-Mann-Straße and Cottastraße. The work is by Zdeněk Němeček and consists of five tall steles. It features a sculpted head of Fučík and bears a trilingual inscription in German, Russian, and Czech on the front and right side. A second inscription on a metal plaque states that the memorial was dedicated by the youth of the ČSSR to the youth of the GDR and the capital city Berlin, and that it was a gift of the ČSSR youth organization for the 10th World Festival in East Berlin in 1973.

Julius Fučík Memorial with five stone pillars, including a central pillar with a metal bust and carved inscriptions.
The Julius Fučík Memorial features five tall stone pillars, including a central bust and carved text panels.
August 2010 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Julius Fučík Memorial with tall steles, a dark profile bust, and an inscribed panel in a park setting.
The Julius Fučík Memorial shown as a group of tall steles in a park, including a profile bust and an inscribed panel.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Tall stone steles of the Julius Fučík Memorial stand in a snowy park with evergreen trees and nearby buildings.
The Julius Fučík Memorial in Berlin-Niederschönhausen, shown as a group of stone steles in a winter park setting.
February 2025 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Julius Fučík Memorial with three tall stone steles in a snowy park, one carved with relief figures and abstract shapes.
The Julius Fučík Memorial in Bürgerpark Pankow, shown as three stone steles in a snow-covered park.
February 2025 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Weathered bronze bust of Julius Fučík set into a rough stone stele, with verdigris against a blue sky.
Julius Fučík Memorial in Berlin-Niederschönhausen, showing a weathered bronze bust embedded in stone.
February 2025 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleJulius-Fučík-Denkmal
TypeMemorial monument; commemorative stele
Alternative nameGedenkstätte Julius Fučík

Historical context

Date1973
Event10th World Festival of Youth and Students

Creator

ArtistZdeněk Němeček

Iconography and meaning

SubjectCzech journalist and writer Julius Fučík

Discovery and provenance

Gift/commemorationGift from the youth organization of the ČSSR for the 10th World Festival of Youth and Students in East Berlin

Location and ownership

LocationBürgerpark Pankow, near Heinrich-Mann-Straße and Cottastraße, Niederschönhausen, Berlin, Germany
DedicationDedicated to the youth of the GDR and the capital of the GDR, Berlin, by the youth of the ČSSR

Physical characteristics

FormFive tall steles with a bronze bust of Fučík
Number of stelesFive
Stele heightsThree steles are up to 6 meters high, and two are about 4 meters high
CompositionFive white concrete steles of different heights, with three slightly offset in the front row and two offset steles in a rear row

Materials

MaterialsWhite concrete, bronze, metal

Appearance

DecorationOne stele has an ornamental incised pattern; others are partially decorated with abstract signs and figures integrated into the side panels
BustBronze relief bust of Julius Fučík in the center
InscriptionTrilingual inscription in German, Russian, and Czech with Fučík's words: 'People, I loved you, be vigilant!'
Plaque inscription"This memorial was dedicated to the youth of the GDR and the capital of the GDR Berlin by the youth of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic"
Plaque positionAttached to the lower right edge of the left front column
Inscription positionOn the front and right side