Friedrich Wilhelm I of Brandenburg memorial

This memorial depicts Friedrich Wilhelm I standing on a concrete base covered with granite slabs at Minden's eastern gate. The bronze figure faces southward and sits at ground level for easy viewing.

The memorial was created to mark 250 years since Minden became part of Prussia following the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. This treaty reshaped the region's political boundaries and secured the city's future as a Prussian stronghold.

The inscription on the base speaks to Brandenburg's historical connection with German territories and remains visible to visitors today. This message reflects how the city remembers its past through permanent markers.

The statue stands at Wesertor on the eastern side of the city and is easy to locate. The ground-level placement and open surroundings allow visitors to view the monument from different angles and approach it comfortably.

An almost identical copy of this statue once stood at the Naval Academy in Kiel but was destroyed during World War II. This lost version reflects how widely the memory of this Prussian ruler was honored across different German regions.