Arminius

Hermann was a chieftain of the Cherusci tribe who famously led a coalition of Germanic tribes to victory against the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. The name ‘Hermann‘ was popularized in the 16th century as a translation of ‘Arminius‘, possibly first by Martin Luther, and means ‘man of war‘ in Old High German. Arminius had been trained by the Romans but turned against them, orchestrating one of Roma’s most devastating defeats.

The Varusschlacht, or Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, saw Arminius ambush and destroy three Roman legions led by Publius Quinctilius Varus. This defeat halted Roman expansion into Germania and had a lasting impact on European history. For centuries, the exact location of the battle was debated, but significant archaeological finds at Kalkriese near Osnabrück – including coins, weapons, and fortifications – have made it the leading candidate for the site of this historic clash. The Hermannsdenkmal is therefore actually placed in the wrong location.

The monument, completed in 1875 near Detmold, commemorates Arminius’s victory. The monument stands 53.56 meters tall, with the statue itself measuring 26.57 meters, making it the tallest statue in Germany and, until the construction of the Statue of Liberty, the highest memorial in the Western world. The sword bears the inscription: ‘Deutsche Einigkeit, meine Stärke – meine Stärke, Deutschlands Macht‘ (‘German unity, my strength – my strength, Germany’s power‘). The Hermannsdenkmal was once a powerful symbol of German unity and nationalism, especially during the 19th century.

Today, the Hermannsdenkmal is seen with more humor and less seriousness. Currently, it even sports a giant jersey of the football club Arminia Bielefeld, celebrating the club’s unexpected run to the DFB-Pokal final. Visitors can climb a narrow staircase inside the monument to reach a viewing platform with panoramic views of the Teutoburger Wald. The entrance fee for the viewing platform is four euros, and there is a small museum and a restaurant nearby. The monument is easily accessible by bus from Detmold railway station, making it a popular destination for history enthusiasts and tourists alike.

Hermannsdenkmal
Teutoburger Wald
Detmold
Germany