Ascending through History: Berlin‘s Victory Column

Rising 67 meters above the heart of Berlin‘s Tiergarten park, the Victory Column (Siegessäule) is much more than just an impressive landmark. It is a stone and bronze chronicle of Prussia‘s military triumphs, a witness to the megalomaniacal dreams of the Third Reich, and an enduring emblem of a city that has weathered many storms. As historian Brian Ladd writes, the column is "a monument to victory in war, but also a monument to the mutability of all monuments."[1]

Commemorating Prussian Victories

The story of the Victory Column begins in an era when Prussia was asserting its power on the European stage through a series of military conflicts. First came the 1864 Second Schleswig War, in which Prussia and Austria fought together against Denmark for control of the Duchy of Schleswig. Prussia‘s victory in that conflict set the stage for tensions with its erstwhile Austrian ally. Those tensions exploded into the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, a brief but consequential clash that established Prussia as the dominant force in German politics.[2]

Just a few years later, from 1870-1871, Prussia led the North German states in a war against France. The decisive Prussian triumph in that bloody struggle paved the way for the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership in January 1871.[3] These three victorious wars formed the backdrop for the creation of Berlin‘s Victory Column.

Construction on the monument began in 1864, based on a design by architect Heinrich Strack. Progress was slow, and by the time the column was finally dedicated in 1873, it had become a celebration of Prussia‘s three recent military successes. The column‘s most eye-catching feature, the gilded statue of Victoria, Roman goddess of victory, was added at this time. Designed by sculptor Friedrich Drake, the 8.3 meter tall figure holds a laurel wreath in one hand and a staff with an iron cross in the other.[4]

A Monument to Prussian Power

In its original form, the Victory Column made a bold statement about Prussian power and nationalism. The base was adorned with bronze reliefs depicting scenes from the three wars, along with mosaic inlays proclaiming "The Prussian army‘s glory is the nation‘s glory."[5] The column itself, built of four sandstone drums, was decorated with 60 gilded cannon barrels captured from vanquished foes – 20 each from Denmark, Austria, and France.[6]

The choice of Victoria as the crowning sculpture was likewise rich with symbolism. For 19th century Prussians, eager to link their state to the prestige of classical antiquity, Victoria was an apt figurehead. Yet as historian Katharina Weikl notes, this version of Victoria was far from a faithful reproduction of her Roman predecessor:

"With her imperial crown, her lance, and her armor-like robe, the Berlin Victoria has more in common with the German‘s conception of themselves…than with any Roman deity. She represents victory, but a very Prussian notion of victory, based on military success and aggressive nationalism."[7]

Placed in the Königsplatz, not far from the Reichstag building, the Victory Column became a focal point for expressions of Prussian pride and patriotism. Its completion was commemorated annually on "Sedan Day," a national holiday marking the decisive Prussian win over France in 1870.[8] In the words of historian Rudy Koshar, the column "helped enshrine war as a positive good" in the late 19th century German imagination.[9]

The Column in the Nazi Era

Like so many facets of German history, the legacy of the Victory Column is inseparable from the cataclysmic events of the Nazi period. As part of his sweeping plans to remake Berlin into a world capital renamed "Germania," Hitler ordered the monument moved to its current location in the Tiergarten in 1938-39.

The relocation was a massive undertaking. The entire column was uprooted and transported over two kilometers into the park, where it was placed in the center of a newly constructed traffic circle. At the same time, the column was enhanced with an additional segment, increasing its overall height by over 7 meters. A new base was added, decorated with reliefs reflecting Nazi tastes.[10]

The Nazis sought to incorporate the Victory Column into their ideological vision, casting it as a forerunner of their own military ambitions and dreams of conquest. In one particularly chilling episode in 1939, a Victory Column replica was the centerpiece of a martial parade celebrating Hitler‘s 50th birthday – a spectacle captured in propaganda film footage.[11]

Evolving Meanings in Postwar Berlin

Miraculously, the Victory Column survived the devastation of World War II with only minor damage. In the war‘s aftermath, as Berlin lay in ruins, the gilded angel atop her column was one of the first landmarks to reappear on the shattered skyline.[12] The column underwent renovations in the 1980s and has remained a popular tourist destination, offering unmatched views over the reunified city.

But the column‘s meaning for Berliners and for Germans more broadly has continued to evolve. No longer solely a monument to Prussian militarism, the column has been embraced as an emblem of Berlin itself. Its image graces postcards, t-shirts, and countless tourist trinkets. It has featured prominently in popular films like Wim Wenders‘ "Wings of Desire" and been a backdrop for music videos and concerts.[13]

At the same time, the column remains a flashpoint for debates over how Germany should remember and represent its past. In 2008, when then-U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama wanted to speak at the Victory Column during a visit to Berlin, some German politicians objected to the site‘s militaristic and nationalistic connotations.[14] The column has also been a gathering point for far-right rallies in recent years, sparking controversy.[15]

Historian Paul Stangl sums up the Victory Column‘s ambiguous but enduring resonance: "The column still speaks, albeit in muted tones, of the power of a state to impress on people very particular notions of patriotism and national identity…Its story reflects the continuities and discontinuities in Germany‘s ongoing dialog with its history."[16]

For visitors to Berlin today, ascending the Victory Column is a chance not just to admire a stunning view, but to reflect on the march of history that has swirled around this monument for a century and a half. The gilded angel, standing serene amid the bustle of the city, is a reminder that even the grandest expressions of national triumph can take on new meanings in the shifting light of time.

Visiting Information

• Location: Großer Stern, Tiergarten, 10557 Berlin, Germany
• Getting There: Walk from nearby attractions like Brandenburg Gate (20 min) or take public transit to Hansaplatz (U9), Bellevue (S5, S7, S75), or Tiergarten (S5, S7, S75)
• Hours: April-October: Mon-Fri 9:30am-6:30pm, Sat-Sun 9:30am-7:00pm; November-March: Mon-Sun 9:30am-5:30pm
• Admission: 3 euros for adults, 2.50 euros for concessions; free for children under 6

Sources

1. Brian Ladd, The Ghosts of Berlin: Confronting German History in the Urban Landscape (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997), 211.
2. Christopher Clark, Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947 (Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 2008), 528-540.
3. Geoffrey Wawro, The Franco-Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870-1871 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003), 285-310.
4. Hans-Werner Klünner and Helmut Börsch-Supan, Berliner Plätze (Berlin: Propyläen Verlag, 1988), 124.
5. Rudy Koshar, From Monuments to Traces: Artifacts of German Memory, 1870-1990 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000), 11.
6. Ibid., 11.
7. Katharina Weikl, "In the Shadow of Empire: The Siegesallee and Prussian Visions of Imperial Identity," German History 35, no. 1 (March 2017): 70-71.
8. Klünner and Börsch-Supan, Berliner Plätze, 125.
9. Koshar, From Monuments to Traces, 11.
10. Matthias Braun, "Siegessäule Moved 1938," Traces of German History – Berlin 1945 to 1990, accessed March 15, 2023, https://www.berlin1945-1990.com/siegessaule-moved-1938.
11. Ibid.
12. Tony Le Tissier, Berlin Battlefield Guide: Third Reich and Cold War (Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword, 2016), 65.
13. Jennifer A. Jordan, Structures of Memory: Understanding Urban Change in Berlin and Beyond (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2006), 184.
14. "Obama Visit Sparks Row over Berlin Venue," Reuters, July 20, 2008, https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-obama-idUKSP23423120080720.
15. "Right-Wing Protests at Berlin Victory Column," Deutsche Welle, March 3, 2018, https://www.dw.com/en/right-wing-protests-at-berlins-victory-column/a-42808752.
16. Paul Stangl, "The Afterlife of Prussia‘s Victories: Monumental Columns in Divided and Unified Berlin," in Commemoration in Germany Since 1945, ed. Bill Niven and Chloe Paver (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010), 130.