World War One Memorial in Tübingen
Pictures and text by Mark R. Hatlie
These pictures were taken on July 10, 2005, in Tuebingen, a famous university town on the Neckar river in the southwest of Germany. The monument is located away from the city center, just south of the railroad tracks near the Finanzamt. To find it, walk through the tunnel under the railroad tracks about 200 meters east of the main train station.When you emerge from the tunnel, it is on your right.
The monument commemorates the 10 Wuerttemberg Infantry Regiment in the First World War. I assume that that unit is somehow associated with Tuebingen or perhaps with the south part of town where the monument is located.
The monument appears to be a product of the early 1920s, judging by the architecture and especially the writing, usually called "gothic" in English. It shows no evidence of having been "updated" in any way to include the Second World War. The monument doesn't list any names, but instead lists the locations where the unit fought. I will translate the words with the appropriate photo.
Although I have ridden my bicycle past this monument several times per week for several years, I have never seen a single person pay any attention to it. But it is reasonably well kept up and cared for.
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Wide angle shot of the monument. The Finanzamt is in the background. The monument makes generous use of space, with room for small ceremonies or for people to sit or stand in contemplation. |
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The various battles in which the regiment fought are listed here. In 1914, the unit fought in the south, later it was moved north into Flanders. |
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The plaque reads, "To the memory of the 10th Wuerttemberg Infantry Regiment Nr. 180". The small plaque above shows the coat of arms for Wuerttemberg and reads, "Fearless and loyal". The cross on top seems almost an afterthought. Christian imagery certainly isn't central to the monument. |
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This plaque is over on the left, facing to the side. It reads,"141 officers and over 3000 other ranks fell for the Fatherland". |
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This picture was taken on 15 November, 2005. An acquaintance said that the wreath appeared on the 14th. It reads, "Universitätsstadt Tübingen". Since that is the official designation of the city, "University City Tübingen", it doesn't necessarily have anyhting to do with the university. These wreaths are routinely dropped at all the city's war memorials before the second Sunday after All Saints Day for the national day of mourning. They are not used by anybody at most of the sites, however. . |
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In the fall of 2007, the memorial was vandalized with these sprayings of ejaculating penises. A short time later, and after this photo was taken, the city cleaned it up, but as of late 2008, the desecration is still clearly visible. |
