Waldersee Monument, Colossal statue in Oststadt, Hanover, Germany

The Waldersee Monument is a 4.50-metre colossal statue of Field Marshal Alfred von Waldersee, carved in Muschelkalk limestone by Bernhard Hoetger in 1914–1915. It closes the view down the Kleine Pfahlstraße in Hanover's Oststadt, at the edge of the Eilenriede and opposite the Villa Waldersee. Waldersee stands in a uniform coat holding a field marshal's baton over a helmet and a pointed shield, beneath an eagle draped like a canopy, and rests not on the base itself but on a compact dragon.

Sculptor Bernhard Hoetger created the memorial between 1914 and 1915, and Hanover unveiled it on March 21, 1915 during World War I. The monument's dedication during wartime reflects how the city honored military leadership at that moment in history.

The monument reflects design elements inspired by North German Roland statues, with distinctive lettering and a dedication to the military leader. Visitors can observe an artistic interpretation of a historical figure that was typical for memorials of this era.

The monument stands at the edge of the Eilenriede, closing the perspective of the Kleine Pfahlstraße in the Oststadt district, opposite the Villa Waldersee. It is reached from Hohenzollernstraße, not by following paths through the park itself. The 4.50-metre figure is set behind a surrounding fence of lances, so it is best viewed from the street.

The figure does not stand directly on the pedestal but on a compact dragon, and the shield bears the motto "Mit Gott für Kaiser und Reich". The letters of all inscriptions are stylised in runic form, and the eagle draped over Waldersee's head like a baldachin creates the impression of a niche.