Befreiungsdenkmal, War memorial in Innsbruck, Austria
The Befreiungsdenkmal is a war memorial in Innsbruck featuring five arched gateways and reaching about 20 meters in height, topped by a copper eagle holding a shield. The structure stands at Eduard-Wallnöfer Square and uses neoclassical design elements that frame the surrounding space.
French military authorities commissioned this memorial in 1946, with its completion coming in 1948 to honor resistance fighters against National Socialism and fallen Allied soldiers. It was built during the early postwar period and has shaped the character of the central square since then.
The memorial displays the names of 124 resistance members and features the coat of arms symbols of all nine Austrian federal states arranged in a cross pattern. This arrangement reflects a sense of national unity and shows how the country came together after difficult years.
The memorial stands in the heart of Innsbruck at Eduard-Wallnöfer Square, very close to the Audioversum Science Center. Access is available through recently renovated plaza areas that provide wheelchair access for all visitors.
The Latin inscription 'Pro Libertate Austriae Mortuis' appears on the architrave, meaning 'For those who died for Austria's freedom.' This classical wording gives the memorial a timeless dignity that remains unchanged across decades.
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