Wehrmann in Eisen, Vienna

The Wehrmann in Eisen is a bronze knight statue located at the intersection of Felderstrasse and Ebendorferstrasse near Vienna City Hall, its surface completely covered with nail heads. The figure stands as a memorial to soldiers from World War I.

The memorial was originally created in 1915 at Schwarzenbergplatz as a fundraising monument where citizens contributed by hammering nails into its surface. The statue was later moved to its current location.

The inscription on the statue reflects how wartime suffering connected to charitable action through community participation. The nails hammered into the surface tell the story of collective support for those left behind.

The statue stands in a central location near Vienna City Hall and is easily accessible on foot. You can view it at any time since it sits in a public space.

The statue is composed of approximately 500,000 individual nails, each representing a monetary donation from a citizen. This unusual fundraising method made the memorial an early example of community participation in war relief.

GPS coordinates: 48.21187,16.35682

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:06