Hermannsdenkmal facts for kids
The Hermann Monument (also known as Hermannsdenkmal in German) is a huge statue located in the southern part of the Teutoburg Forest. You can find it in the Lippe area, within North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.
This monument remembers a very important person named Hermann, also known as Arminius. He was a leader of the Cherusci tribe. In 9 AD, Hermann led German tribes to victory against three Roman armies, led by a general named Varus. This famous battle is known as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
The giant sword held by the statue has a special message carved into it. It says:
- German unity (is) my strength - my strength (is) Germany's might.
About the Hermann Monument
The Hermann Monument stands very tall, reaching over 53 meters (173 feet) high. An artist named Ernst von Bandel designed this impressive statue.
Building the monument started in 1841. It was a huge project and took a long time to finish. The statue was finally completed in 1875. A lot of money from the state of Prussia helped make sure it could be finished.
When construction began, Germany was not one big country. It was made up of many smaller states. After the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, most of these states joined together to form the Second German Empire. The Hermann Monument became a strong symbol of German history and national pride during this time of unification.
Visiting the Monument
The Hermann Monument is a very popular place to visit in Germany. More than 130,000 people come to see it every year. You can even climb up to the base of the statue for amazing views of the countryside around it.
There is also a similar monument called the Hermann Heights Monument in New Ulm, Minnesota, USA. This town was founded by German immigrants, who brought their heritage with them.
Images for kids
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The Hermannsdenkmal around 1900
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The statue up close. The sword has a length of 7 meters and weighs ca. 550 kg
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Hermannsdenkmal in 2016
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Hermannsdenkmal in 2016 from the back
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Detailed view of the statue: you can see the riveted copper-plates.
See also
In Spanish: Hermannsdenkmal para niños
