While walking around the contemporary streets of Berlin, one can get lost in the sights and finds a bronze man sitting in the district of Mitte. This structure is none other but the Marx-Engels Denkmal, or rememberance, embodying part of the social history of Germany and the two very influential philosophers, Marx and Engels.
The Story Behind the Monument
The statue has been open to the public since the 4th of September 1986 in honor of the 195th birthday of Karl Marx. The current monument was designed by the sculptor Ludwig Engelhardt and is dedicated to Marxism, uniting the figures of Marx and Engels. It is located close to the land, which used to house Palace of the Republic – the building, which used to be the seat of the East Germany’s parliament.
Karl Marx: A Revolutionary Thinker
Karl Marx, a man of both German nationality and Jewish decent, was born in Trier in 1818. His most famous work is The Communist Manifesto published in 1848; and Capital published between 1867 and 1894 which he wrote with Friedrich Engels, looked at the effects of communism on the proletariat society calling for a revolution for the proletariat. Marxism laid the ground work to modern communism and socialism; he became one of the most influential persons in economic and political theories.
Friedrich Engels: Marx’s Collaborator
Friedrich Engels who was born in 1820 in Germany can appropriately be described as a social scientist, philosopher and political writer. It is with Marx that Engels is more famous for having accompanied, supported, and developed the ideas presented in The Communist Manifesto. Some of the conditions of the Working Class that Engels wrote about during the Industrial Revolution responded largely in setting up and Marxist theory that followed its wake.
Symbolism and Design
The monument is dedicated to revolutionary philosophers Marx and Engels, it is 7 meters high and made entirely of bronze. This sculpture portrays Marx and Engels in a talking position with a stone bench or platform as a base. Ironically enough, the figure of Marx has a book in its hands, and Engels has support left hand on its chin looks thoughtful. Both together represent the thinking partnership and revolutionary thought which the two represented in their working relation.
This extraordinary structure holds and reflects the historical essence of Marxism and the role it played in Germany and in the world. This is an impressive symbol of political and ideological shift, which still gives the idea on the historical background of Berlin, which was once split by the Wall.
During the Tour to the Marx-Engels Monument
The Marx-Engels Monument is open to tourists and anyone interested in the philosophies of the world’s history. When planning your visit, consider the following:
Location and Accessibility
The monument is now sited in the city center, close to Alexanderplatz, and to get there one can take a bus or a subway. Apparently, it is easily accessible by S-Bahn, U-Bahn and tram and is found near Alexanderplatz station. From there you can walk on to the monument within a short span of time.
Time to Visit
The monument can be visited at any time, which means that people can feel the endowed value of the monument at any time convenient for them. Regardless of the time of day visitors decide to go or whether they go to see the monument during the day or in the evening it is always a sight to behold.
Exploring the Surroundings
For triangular, take a chance to walk around the predatory urban area where Marx-Engels monument is situated. Alexanderplatz is actually a central location of Berlin which provides the taste of history along with shopping malls, restaurants and television tower.
Thinking about History and Ideology
When facing the Marx-Engels, think about how these great minds have changed the world, and for better or for worse. It is necessary to think about the transformations Marxism and socialist movements have introduced, and the discords and arguments which surround the concepts of Marxism.
In conclusion
Symbolic of the intellectual heritage of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is the Marx-Engels-Denkmal in Berlin – Germany. She uses it as a sign of their roles and effects on political theory and the world. Besides history, it gives a chance walk around and think about great ideas that brought to life the world which people know today.
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