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Isted Lion

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583: 595: 500: 646: 389: 51: 926: 245: 574:– resulting in a fierce political debate. As the debate ended with a confirmation of the existing border, the same politicians ruled out the possibility of returning the statue to a German-ruled town. On a number of occasions, controversy over the monument resurfaced, as a new generation of politicians began advocating for its return to a German-administered Flensburg. 619:
volunteered to pay for the relocation. The wooden plinth was replaced with a bigger one made of brick, and the statue was reunited with its four reliefs for the first time in more than a century. The finished result was unveiled on the 150th anniversary of the battle, July 25, 2000, by Danish
380:, was seen as a provocation by the region's German nationalists who opposed the Danish claim to sovereignty over the area. The decision to let the lion face south reinforced this feeling. Flensburg was divided by national sympathies but had a pro-Danish majority until after the 1864 war. 548:. Møller said, "The removal of this sepulchral monument, which in this country is considered a national sanctuary, and its erection in a German military academy, caused a resentment which till this very day is still alive in wide circles of the Danish people." 658:
At the request of the city council of Flensburg, the Danish Government decided to return the Isted Lion to its original home in Flensburg. On 10 September 2011, it returned to the military cemetery, where it was first erected. The ceremony was attended by HRH
627:. In her speech, she expressed the wish that the statue would be returned to Flensburg. In a Parliament debate on November 20, 1998, she had previously stated that the statue should be returned to Flensburg, since that was the wish of the 483:, in effect reversing the meaning of the original monument. In 1938, the Danish press reported the existence of the copy of the historic monument, and at roughly the same time, the zinc copy was moved to Heckeshorn near the 411:
forces, German nationalists attacked the monument and tried to topple it. They succeeded in removing the tail and part of the lion's back but failed to destroy the statue due to the intervention of German authorities.
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In the autumn of 1945, the paperwork had been completed, and an American army convoy headed for Copenhagen, where it arrived on October 5. On October 20, the lion was officially handed over to King
281: 292:, it was decided that the funds would instead be used for a monument commemorating the Battle of Isted. Like the previous monument, this commission was awarded to Bissen. 280:
in 1858. At the following banquet, it was decided to start a public subscription of funds for a second monument, and one of the options discussed was a statue of General
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The new plaque on the front side. Translation of text: Isted 25 June 1850 / erected 1862 / 2011 erected again as a sign of friendship and trust between Danes and Germans
81: 445:(Arsenal) in Berlin on February 9, 1868. Following the transformation of the arsenal into a military museum in 1875, the lion was transported to the Cadet Academy in 520: 538: 541:
of the Allied forces in Europe, who demanded an official request in order to allow the return of the monument. Such a request was promptly delivered by
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and approached the United States Army about a possible return of the statue. The issue ultimately reached the desk of General
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From 1945 to 1947, a few Danish politicians, with wide support in the popular opinion, advocated for a re-annexation of
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which contain three and two blue lions, respectively. In order to create a perfect image of a lion, Bissen travelled to
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and created a life-size model before returning to Denmark. Bissen completed his first plaster model in 1860, and the
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to a neighbouring site. The debate about moving the lion to this more prominent position began, and the
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The statue was unveiled on the 12th anniversary of the battle, 25 July 1862, at St Mary's Cemetery in
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Prince Joachim of Denmark is looking to the memorial plaque which he had revealed, seconds before.
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was commissioned to create a monument to the ordinary Danish soldier. Although not an actual
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2011 wieder errichtet als Zeichen von Freundschaft und Vertrauen zwischen Dänen und Deutschen
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supporting the Schleswig-Holstein insurgents. At its time it was the largest battle in
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of 1864 and remained there until 1945. It was returned to Denmark as a gift from the
365:'s largest city. Among the celebrities attending the ceremony was fairy-tale writer 898: 449:, and erected there in April 1878. The lion remained there for more than 60 years. 504: 945: 807: 170: 144: 132: 59: 37: 1049: 1109: 1091: 1078: 608: 516: 512: 289: 182: 165:
originally intended as a monument of the Danish victory over German-minded
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Others perceived it more as a memorial for the Danish dead in the battle.
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The zinc copy in Berlin. Picture taken following its restoration in 2005.
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Part of the information regarding the copy in Berlin is based on the
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in Flensburg. In 1867, the lion and the four reliefs were moved to
320: 162: 638:, already the home of Bissen's other main work, the statue of the 484: 377: 212: 186: 174: 158: 88: 50: 925: 530: 465: 424: 324: 316: 312: 208: 810:(in Danish). Foreningen Til Istedløvens Placering i Fredericia 946:
Website advocating for the movement of the lion to Fredericia
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copy of the monument was erected in Berlin in a public park,
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association of war veterans. This monument was paid for by
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Isted den 25. Juli 1850. Det danske Folk reiste dette Minde
471:. A path leading up to the statue was fittingly dubbed, 400:
to the region, culminating in the German victory in the
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Isted, 25 July 1850. The Danish people set this memorial
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near the museum began, prompted by a relocation of the
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depicting four Danish officers from the war; Generals
718:(in Danish). Kulturcenteret Assistens. Archived from 288:
of the town. Through the intervention of politician
962:Official website of Berlin mentioning the monument 231:. In September 2011 it was returned to Flensburg. 826: 824: 806:Christlieb, Emanuel; Christiansen, Thomas Kvist. 683: 1107: 284:, the commander of Fredericia during the German 713: 372:Erecting the monument in Flensburg rather than 821: 642:, was lobbying for moving the monument there. 315:cast was completed by June 1862. The statue's 985: 491:. The statue in Berlin was repaired in 2005. 954:Flensburg Online Magazine about the monument 523:, a correspondent from the Danish newspaper 215:authorities after Prussian conquests in the 152: 872:Official website of the Danish Parliament. 679: 677: 992: 978: 938:Official museum website about the monument 846:Eduard Troelsgård. Rådgivende ingeniører. 835:. Cambridge University Press. p. 134. 323:stone was decorated with four round metal 207:during still Danish rule, it was moved to 999: 833:America and the return of Nazi contraband 773: 771: 744: 740: 738: 736: 407:Following the occupation of Flensburg by 1151:Danish military memorials and cemeteries 1136:First Schleswig War memorials in Denmark 801: 799: 674: 644: 503:The original Isted Lion in front of the 498: 439:The reassembled lion was erected in the 387: 243: 1108: 768: 733: 653: 563:) and placed on a mere wooden plinth. 1116:Buildings and structures in Flensburg 973: 830: 796: 16:Danish war monument unveiled in 1862 1141:Sculptures by Herman Wilhelm Bissen 808:"Istedløven blev født i Fredericia" 690:Dansk-Skånsk Tidsskrift no. 1, 2002 684:Kragelund, Britta (February 2002). 481:Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia 248:The Isted Lion in Flensburg c. 1864 34:Danish Palace and Properties Agency 13: 1146:Monuments and memorials in Germany 1033:Equestrian statue of Frederick VII 252:Following the Danish victory over 14: 1177: 919: 529:, "rediscovered" the monument in 181:which was a civil war within the 924: 593: 581: 49: 607:In 1999, construction of a new 415:The Prime Minister of Prussia, 1015:Statue of Anders Sandøe Ørsted 865: 839: 707: 333:Friderich Adolph Schleppegrell 177:) on 25 July 1850, during the 1: 1161:Outdoor sculptures in Germany 666: 649:The wrapped Lion in Flensburg 494: 295:The lion is derived from the 906:Den Store Danske Encyklopædi 307:to study a lion held in the 282:Frederik Rubeck Henrik Bülow 239: 185:, although with troops from 7: 901:, accessed on 12 June 2006. 850:(in Danish). Archived from 753:(in Danish). Archived from 692:(in Danish). Archived from 557:Royal Danish Arsenal Museum 505:Royal Danish Arsenal Museum 329:Gerhard Christoph von Krogh 266:Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 260:(1848–51), Danish sculptor 42:Slots- og Ejendomsstyrelsen 10: 1182: 831:Kurtz, Michael J. (2006). 434:Friedrich Graf von Wrangel 234: 1092:54.78526000°N 9.4297389°E 1042: 1007: 661:Prince Joachim of Denmark 383: 105: 95: 76: 65: 57: 48: 33: 26: 21: 908:, CD-ROM edition, entry 511:Following the defeat of 225:Søren Kierkegaards Plads 716:"Herman Wilhelm Bissen" 625:Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen 617:Ny-Carlsberg Foundation 543:Danish Foreign Minister 367:Hans Christian Andersen 1097:54.78526000; 9.4297389 1021:Statue of Frederick VI 779:"Der Flensburger Löwe" 650: 508: 393: 258:First War of Schleswig 249: 199:Originally erected in 153: 148: 136: 41: 1001:Herman Wilhelm Bissen 933:at Wikimedia Commons 895:corresponding article 751:Dansk militærhistorie 714:Jensen, Hans Jørgen. 648: 546:John Christmas Møller 502: 391: 262:Herman Wilhelm Bissen 247: 100:Herman Wilhelm Bissen 622:Minister for Culture 613:Danish Royal Library 570:, and in particular 535:Dwight D. Eisenhower 430:Generalfeldmarschall 217:Second Schleswig War 1156:Sculptures of lions 1088: /  654:Return to Flensburg 223:and was located at 179:First Schleswig War 58:For victory in the 1166:Statues in Germany 651: 568:Southern Schleswig 521:Henrik V. Ringsted 509: 489:Wannsee Conference 394: 309:Jardin des Plantes 276:) was unveiled in 254:Schleswig-Holstein 250: 221:United States Army 169:insurgents in the 167:Schleswig-Holstein 1121:History of Berlin 1071: 1070: 1056:Carl Edvard Sonne 929:Media related to 539:Supreme Commander 417:Otto von Bismarck 121: 120: 112: 110:DEN 25. JULI 1850 44: 1173: 1103: 1102: 1100: 1099: 1098: 1093: 1089: 1086: 1085: 1084: 1081: 1064:(brother-in-æaw) 1058:(brother-in-law) 994: 987: 980: 971: 970: 966: 958: 950: 942: 928: 914: 899:German Knowledge 885: 884: 882: 881: 869: 863: 862: 860: 859: 843: 837: 836: 828: 819: 818: 816: 815: 803: 794: 793: 791: 790: 775: 766: 765: 763: 762: 742: 731: 730: 728: 727: 711: 705: 704: 702: 701: 681: 597: 585: 477:Road to the Lion 473:Straße zum Löwen 427:at the order of 402:Battle of Dybbøl 274:the Foot Soldier 156: 149:Flensburger Löwe 109: 96:Designed by 82:The Old Cemetery 69:25 July 1862 in 53: 36: 19: 18: 1181: 1180: 1176: 1175: 1174: 1172: 1171: 1170: 1131:1862 sculptures 1126:1862 in Denmark 1106: 1105: 1096: 1094: 1090: 1087: 1082: 1079: 1077: 1075: 1074: 1072: 1067: 1038: 1003: 998: 964: 956: 948: 940: 922: 917: 912: 889: 888: 879: 877: 870: 866: 857: 855: 844: 840: 829: 822: 813: 811: 804: 797: 788: 786: 777: 776: 769: 760: 758: 745:Laursen, Gert. 743: 734: 725: 723: 712: 708: 699: 697: 682: 675: 669: 656: 634:A committee in 629:Danish minority 605: 604: 603: 602: 601: 598: 590: 589: 586: 497: 386: 349: 341:Frederik Læssøe 297:arms of Denmark 242: 237: 171:Battle of Isted 117: 111: 108: 91: 60:Battle of Isted 35: 29: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1179: 1169: 1168: 1163: 1158: 1153: 1148: 1143: 1138: 1133: 1128: 1123: 1118: 1069: 1068: 1066: 1065: 1059: 1053: 1050:Vilhelm Bissen 1046: 1044: 1040: 1039: 1037: 1036: 1030: 1024: 1018: 1011: 1009: 1005: 1004: 997: 996: 989: 982: 974: 968: 967: 959: 951: 943: 921: 920:External links 918: 916: 915: 903: 887: 886: 864: 838: 820: 795: 767: 732: 706: 672: 671: 670: 668: 665: 655: 652: 599: 592: 591: 587: 580: 579: 578: 577: 576: 496: 493: 469:Wilhelm Conrad 385: 382: 241: 238: 236: 233: 154:Idstedter Löwe 141:Flensborgløven 129:Flensburg Lion 119: 118: 106: 103: 102: 97: 93: 92: 80: 78: 74: 73: 67: 63: 62: 55: 54: 46: 45: 31: 30: 27: 24: 23: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1178: 1167: 1164: 1162: 1159: 1157: 1154: 1152: 1149: 1147: 1144: 1142: 1139: 1137: 1134: 1132: 1129: 1127: 1124: 1122: 1119: 1117: 1114: 1113: 1111: 1104: 1101: 1080:54°47′6.936″N 1063: 1060: 1057: 1054: 1051: 1048: 1047: 1045: 1041: 1034: 1031: 1028: 1025: 1022: 1019: 1016: 1013: 1012: 1010: 1006: 1002: 995: 990: 988: 983: 981: 976: 975: 972: 963: 960: 955: 952: 947: 944: 939: 936: 935: 934: 932: 927: 911: 907: 904: 902: 900: 896: 891: 890: 875: 868: 854:on 2007-06-13 853: 849: 842: 834: 827: 825: 809: 802: 800: 785:on 2006-01-14 784: 780: 774: 772: 757:on 2006-06-20 756: 752: 748: 741: 739: 737: 722:on 2006-06-15 721: 717: 710: 696:on 2007-03-10 695: 691: 687: 680: 678: 673: 664: 662: 647: 643: 641: 637: 632: 630: 626: 623: 618: 614: 610: 609:public square 596: 584: 575: 573: 569: 564: 562: 558: 554: 549: 547: 544: 540: 536: 532: 528: 527: 522: 518: 514: 506: 501: 492: 490: 486: 482: 478: 474: 470: 467: 463: 462:Colonie Alsen 459: 455: 450: 448: 444: 443: 437: 435: 432: 431: 426: 422: 418: 413: 410: 405: 403: 399: 390: 381: 379: 375: 370: 368: 364: 360: 355: 353: 348: 344: 342: 338: 337:Hans Helgesen 335:and Colonels 334: 330: 326: 322: 318: 314: 310: 306: 302: 298: 293: 291: 287: 283: 279: 275: 271: 267: 263: 259: 255: 246: 232: 230: 226: 222: 218: 214: 210: 206: 202: 197: 194: 192: 188: 184: 180: 176: 172: 168: 164: 160: 155: 150: 146: 142: 138: 134: 130: 126: 115: 104: 101: 98: 94: 90: 86: 83: 79: 75: 72: 68: 64: 61: 56: 52: 47: 43: 39: 32: 25: 20: 1083:9°25′47.06″E 1073: 1062:Jørgen Sonne 1026: 923: 909: 892: 878:. Retrieved 867: 856:. Retrieved 852:the original 848:"Istedløven" 841: 832: 812:. Retrieved 787:. Retrieved 783:the original 759:. Retrieved 755:the original 750: 747:"Istedløven" 724:. Retrieved 720:the original 709: 698:. 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Index

Danish

Battle of Isted
Flensburg
The Old Cemetery
Flensburg
Germany
Herman Wilhelm Bissen
Danish
German
Danish
monument
Schleswig-Holstein
Battle of Isted
Idstedt
First Schleswig War
Danish Realm
Prussia
Scandinavian
Flensburg
Schleswig
Berlin
Prussian
Second Schleswig War
United States Army
Søren Kierkegaards Plads
Copenhagen

Schleswig-Holstein
First War of Schleswig

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