Bismarck Monument Hamburg

The 34 meter high Bismarck Monument is enthroned in the Old Elbe Park in the city of Hamburg.

Hardly any other monument is surrounded by so many myths and has been the subject of so much discussion.

The restoration of the colossus, erected in 1906, has been planned for a long time, because the statics of the monument are unstable: The Bismarck figure was 90 tons too heavy when it was erected - the sculptor Hugo Lederer built the monument two meters higher than planned. During the Second World War, the expansion of the cavity under the figure into an air-raid shelter put the statics under further strain - now by an additional 2,000 tons. A bomb impact next to the platform further exacerbated the problem. Another remediation goal, is to keep the structure permanently dry, because moisture seeped into the building over many years.

Due to various damages in the construction and waterproofing, cracks in the structure and the high moisture load inside the monument base, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg commissioned GWT-TUD GmbH under the scientific direction of Prof. Dr. John Grunewald with the upstream structural analysis and investigation.

After completion of the upstream structural investigations, the renovation of the Iron Chancellor is scheduled to begin later this year. In addition to the monument, the Old Elbe Park surrounding the monument will also be renovated. A total of one and a half years is estimated for the refurbishment.