The "Reclining Soldier" memorial is a sculpture of a reclining soldier made of Fichtelgebirge stone. Around the memorial there is a circular area with a diameter of 50 meters, which is designed as a lawn. The figure is carved from a block of stone weighing around 400 centners and rests on a plinth approximately 80 centimetres high, is over four meters long and 1.30 meters wide. In front of it is a separate stone with the inscription: "Den Kameraden."
The memorial was inaugurated on November 9, 1937. A sculpture of a "squatting" soldier, which was inaugurated on November 25, 1928 in Herzberg, was initially located in the same place. This was toppled from its pedestal in June 1934 by unknown - presumably National Socialist - perpetrators.
As the "Crouching Soldier" was controversial, the pose did not correspond to the National Socialist world view of heroism, a new design was commissioned to honor the Peine soldiers who fell in the First World War. Once again, Prof. Joseph Enseling, who had also designed the "Crouching Man", was commissioned.
The memorial was inaugurated on November 9, 1937. A sculpture of a "squatting" soldier, which was inaugurated on November 25, 1928 in Herzberg, was initially located in the same place. This was toppled from its pedestal in June 1934 by unknown - presumably National Socialist - perpetrators.
As the "Crouching Soldier" was controversial, the pose did not correspond to the National Socialist world view of heroism, a new design was commissioned to honor the Peine soldiers who fell in the First World War. Once again, Prof. Joseph Enseling, who had also designed the "Crouching Man", was commissioned.
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