Kaiser-Wilhelm-Denkmal, Kaiser William monument at Martin-Luther-Platz, Düsseldorf, Germany
The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Denkmal in Düsseldorf is an equestrian bronze monument showing Emperor William I in general uniform on horseback. Two allegorical bronze figures representing War and Peace stand beside the main statue, and the entire composition rests on a large granite pedestal with relief carvings.
The monument was inaugurated in 1896 and was inspired by Berlin's national William monument. It originally stood at a different location in Düsseldorf before being moved to its present site, becoming a marker for the founding of the German Empire in 1871.
The bronze shield on the pedestal reads "Dem Begründer des deutschen Reiches das dankbare Düsseldorf" (To the founder of the German Empire, grateful Düsseldorf). The square's layout, with the statue on the axis of the Johanneskirche portal, recalls William I as king of Prussia and summus episcopus of the Old Prussian Union church. A signpost panel on the pavement explains all three monuments.
The monument sits on Martin-Luther-Platz in central Düsseldorf and is easy to reach on foot. Wheelchair access to the site is limited, so visitors with mobility concerns should check beforehand for the best approach to the square.
On the narrow side facing the Johanneskirche, a bronze imperial eagle sits above fallen flags of the Second Empire; the opposite side carries a shield inscribed "Dem Begründer des deutschen Reiches das dankbare Düsseldorf" beneath a garland and two bronze putti.
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