Memorial Gerhard von Scharnhorst

Memorial Gerhard von Scharnhorst is a marble statue located on Unter den Linden avenue in Berlin-Mitte, depicting a Prussian military reformer. The sculpture stands opposite the Neue Wache building and was created by a major neoclassical artist.

Prussian General Gerhard von Scharnhorst died in 1813 and received this marble monument a few years later, created between 1819 and 1822. King Friedrich Wilhelm III commissioned the work to honor one of his key military reformers.

The monument belongs to the early Berlin sculpture tradition and demonstrates how artists of that era honored military leaders through stone. It reflects the way Prussia valued its reformers through permanent public art.

The original marble statue was removed in 2021 for preservation and restoration work, with a replica planned for future installation. Visitors can still see the location along Unter den Linden and learn about the ongoing conservation effort.

The inscription on the base features the Prussian king's name and the year of dedication, showing direct royal recognition of the reformer. This dedicatory plaque documents how rulers used public monuments to acknowledge their political allies.

Location: Berlin-Mitte

Inception: 1822

Creator: Christian Daniel Rauch

Made from material: marble

GPS coordinates: 52.51715,13.39539

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:02