200 Years Since the Battle of the Nations – 100 Years of the Battle of the Nations Memorial

The city and region around Leipzig will be celebrating an important double jubilee in 2013: The Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlacht) took place here 200 years ago, and the memorial to it (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) was inaugurated precisely a century ago. The highlight of the memorial of this historic event will be the festival week during October 2013. In the spirit of European compromise, people from all of the countries that participated in the Battle of the Nations will meet in Leipzig in order to collectively look to the past as well as the future.

Background:  Battle of the Nations in Leipzig

In the autumn of 1813, the liberation rebellion against Napoleonic troops ended in the Battle of the Nations just outside the gates of Leipzig. On the days of 16-19 October, the allied powers of Austria, Prussia, the Russian Empire, and Sweden brought an end to Napoleon's reign in Europe. At the Congress of Vienna in 1814/1815, political representatives from around 200 European nations redesigned the balance of powers on the continent. Up to 600,000 soldiers from over a dozen nations took part in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig, which went in the annals of history as the largest battle the world had ever witnessed until the start of the 20th century.

Background: Battle of the Nations Memorial

On 18 October, 1913, Kaiser Wilhelm II inaugurated the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, the Battle of the Nations Memorial. With its viewing platform at 91 metres high, it is one of the largest memorials in Europe. The Völkerschlachtdenkmal is the crowning achievement of Berlin architect Bruno Schmitz, who had previously designed the Kyffhäuser memorial, the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial at the Porta Westfalica as well as the memorial at Deutsches Eck in Koblenz. The sculpture work was carried out by sculptors Christian Behrens (whose works included the Reichstag in Berlin and the Ratskeller in Leipzig) and Franz Metzner (Weinhaus Rheingold Berlin). Including its exterior spaces, the Völkerschlachtdenkmal covers an area of around 80,000 square metres. Today it houses a visitor centre and a museum.

City and Region Join Forces

For efficient synergies between all areas and themes during the double jubilee year, a committee was formed that includes representatives in all core areas from the city and region around Leipzig. This committee meets regularly to reach a consensus for double jubilee plans. Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH leads the committee for communication and marketing.

More detailed information can be found at
www.leipzig.de/voelkerschlacht