Field Marshal Leonhard von Blumenthal
Adolf Brütt, 1903

Object: Bust of Field Marshal Leonhard von Blumenthal, Adolf Brütt. 1903, original location: Ancillary figure to the marble group around Emperor Frederick III in front of the Brandenburg Gate on the Charlottenburger Chaussee (today: Straße des 17. Juni), Berlin-Mitte.

Meeting point: Citadel, show depot Bastion Queen

Who: Prof. Dr. Susanne Kähler (art historian, Berlin University of Applied Sciences), Felix Jaeger (Potsdam Museum – Forum for Art and History)

Controversial questions: Honoring the “Hero of the Wars of Unification” (Die Gartenlaube 1897) was done by extending the Victory Avenue in front of the Brandenburg Gate. The artist Adolf Brütt had already designed two groups on behalf of Wilhelm II. Strangely enough, this stood in a tense relationship between the Wilhelmine retro art and Bauhaus in Weimar. But why is this bust not on display with the works in the “Revealed” museum, but in the show depot of the Queen’s Bastion? And why does hardly anyone remember the “famous strategist” today?

This event is part of the discussion series Fallen Heroes – Democratic Debates at the War Memorial.

“Germany is getting a Veterans’ Day” was the headline in the media in November 2023. This was followed by a discussion about the sense and nonsense of what is understood as “hero worship” commemoration.

When it comes to the culture of remembrance, the Spandau Citadel is naturally involved: the exhibition “Unveiled. Berlin and its monuments” has become a center for the discussion of controversial monuments. We are happy to provide space for an interesting controversy – always on the basis of scientific information, with current references and in a friendly atmosphere.

In this series of talks, we offer the opportunity to learn more about Berlin monuments that were dedicated to generals and soldiers from 1822 to 1989 were dedicated to generals and soldiers and which reveal much about the specifically German development of the public veneration of military personalities. We visit the original objects in the museum, in the new display depot at the Citadel and in public spaces. After a short keynote speech, we invite you to a joint discussion, moderated by museum director Dr. Urte Evert.