Hermann The German Denkmal

One of my fondest memories were the frequent trips my parents and I took up to Detmold to view the Hermann the German monument. It never failed to impress the hell out of me on a swack of levels.

While not American, I couldn't help but notice the similarity between Hermann (actually Arminius) and the Statue of Liberty which stands on Staten Island in the New York City harbour. If memory serves, there is a connection between the two, I just cannot now remember what it was. Same sculptor perhaps? Although Liberty is French-made and Hermann is German....hmmmm....

I also liked the subsidary sculptures of Roman and Germanic warrior busts which lined (or used to, at least) the approach to the monument, even though I didn't understand the significance of them. I did understand that Arminius was a local folk hero for having defeated and routed the hated Romans back in the day, however.

While the location of the monument was for many years touted as near the site of his famous battle in the Teutonwald against the Roman Legions it is now believed the actual site is a few kilometers away (archeological evidence) and that the representation of Arminius, complete with winged helmet, is very much a 19th Century romanticization of ancient Germanic warriors...much like how the Vikings are shown with horned and winged helmets when in actual fact they never wore such things. Shame, really, as they are quite impressive but I suppose totally impractical in battle!

I always found it interesting as well that poor ol' Hermann has pockmarks on various parts of his body because the RAF used to use him as target practice! Bit of an outrage at the time, to be sure, but now just part of his history.

I remember the smell of the imbiss' (sizzling bratwurst and a side of sauerkraut) and the aroma wafting from the vendors selling those dark bread heart-shaped confections (the name of which I forget). They had a particular flavour to them -- somewhat bitter but also sweet, grainy, dark, and very very chewable!! I suspect the items would last years and that unsold stock would be kicking around for about as long!!

hah,

my meories of "Herman" are of having to run up and down as a punishment.

Did go back years later though and did it the easy way by car

Leberkusen is the name of the cakes Stephen, or something like that I think. My German is vanishing with so little use

Stephen Lock wrote:

While the location of the monument was for many years touted as near the site of his famous battle in the Teutonwald against the Roman Legions it is now believed the actual site is a few kilometers away (archeological evidence) and that the representation of Arminius, complete with winged helmet, is very much a 19th Century romanticization of ancient Germanic warriors...much like how the Vikings are shown with horned and winged helmets when in actual fact they never wore such things. Shame, really, as they are quite impressive but I suppose totally impractical in battle!

And the rest Stephen! I can recomend a book called 'In Quest of the Lost Legions the Varussschlacht' written by Maj Tony Clunn MBE, who I believe is the SSO of Osnabruck. In 1987 he discovered 160 Denarri at Kalkriese, an area north of Osnabruck between Bramsche and Ostercappeln, archaeologists have excavated numerous Roman militaria, everyday objects and coins. The findings prove that here in AD 9 fighting took place.

Stephen Lock wrote:

I remember the smell of the imbiss' (sizzling bratwurst and a side of sauerkraut) and the aroma wafting from the vendors selling those dark bread heart-shaped confections (the name of which I forget). They had a particular flavour to them -- somewhat bitter but also sweet, grainy, dark, and very very chewable!! I suspect the items would last years and that unsold stock would be kicking around for about as long!!

Are you on about Lebkuchen?

Lebkuchen, that's it Soprano. Spot on.

Yes, Soprano, it was Lebkuchen I was "on about" (I haven't heard that phrase for many many years! LOL)...odd taste to them, somewhat bitter but with an overlay of sweet and a bit of an "overdone" taste, but not unpleasant. And the aroma of them is so firmly connected to my memories.

I come across some here and there here in Calgary once in a while but they just aren't the same (I suspect the vendors carried the stock over from year to year!!).

Those and marzipan animals...Mmmmmm....