Marx-Engels-Forum

The figures of Marx and Engels stand on the green area of the Marx-Engels Forum.

The Marx-Engels Forum near the Rotes Rathaus is a GDR relic. It shows Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels as larger-than-life figures.

In Berlin, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the founding fathers of communism, can be visited larger than life. The statues of Marx and Engels are located in Berlin-Mitte. They are remnants from the GDR era. Before the Second World War, residential and commercial buildings stood where the pioneers of communism stand today. These were demolished after their destruction. The memorial complex with Marx and Engels was built on the open space according to the plans of Ludwig Engelhardt. It was inaugurated in April 1986.

Centerpiece of the forum: Marx-Engels monument

The Marx and Engels monument consists of four elements. In the center are the two bronze figures of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The larger-than-life figures show Marx sitting and Engels standing. The memorial also includes four double steles made of stainless steel. If you look closely, you can see photos burned into the steles. They show important moments from the struggle of the international proletariat. Behind the statues is a bronze relief by Margret Middel entitled "The dignity and beauty of free people". It shows scenes of life in a society liberated from exploitation and oppression. Another relief is the last element of the forum. A five-part marble relief by Werner Stötzer entitled "Old World" is located directly on the Spree Canal. It shows a group of people in an early capitalist world whose lives are characterized by exploitation and oppression.

Talking Statues: monument with QR code

The monument was integrated into the Talking Statues project: Using a QR code on the base of the monument, visitors can listen to explanations by politician Gregor Gysi about the history of the monument on their smartphone. The area around the Marx-Engels monument will be redesigned from June 2025. The area of over seven hectares will become the new City Hall and Marx-Engels Forum by 2027. The two statues will remain in place and remain a popular photo spot for tourists.

Information

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