Madonna der Meere, Bronze memorial at Altona Fish Market, Germany
Madonna der Meere is a four-ton bronze figure at Altona Fish Market that faces toward the Elbe River and the sea beyond. The memorial sits on a base with inscribed text and remains clearly visible from multiple vantage points.
The memorial was created in 1985 by sculptor Manfred Sihle-Wissel to honor German sailors who died during the Second World War. Its placement in Altona links the monument to the neighborhood's deep roots as a port town.
The statue serves as a gathering place for people connected to maritime life. On All Souls' Day, sailors and their families gather here to remember their own with ringing bells and traditional seafaring songs.
The memorial is wheelchair accessible and sits right at the fish market where visitors can also find other nearby attractions and small eateries. Morning or late afternoon visits work best when market activity winds down and the surroundings feel less crowded.
The base of the memorial bears a quote from writer Joseph Conrad about the nature of the sea and human connection. This literary element adds a reflective quality to the site that goes beyond typical war remembrance.
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