There are few places in Germany where ancient history is staged as strikingly as at the Hermann Monument. The colossal statue near Detmold in North Rhine-Westphalia commemorates the Cheruscan prince Arminius (Hermann) and the Varus Battle in 9 A.D. Extensive cleaning work was now necessary to preserve the oversized warrior statue from the 19th century.
01.11.2024
Clean big citizen
The washing of the Waldmeister: Germany's largest statue and its brilliant stone pedestal have been given a water jet treatment. Photo: Kärcher
The chemical-free steam jets with a surface pressure of approx. 0.5 bar were also used on the arch openings. Photo: Kärcher
The plinth stone before (left) and after cleaning. An action that makes sense not only cosmetically, but also in terms of conservation. Photo: Kärcher
Steam blasting and low-pressure particle blasting processes
The colossal Hermann was built between 1838 and 1875 and inaugurated on August 16, 1875. The 26.57-metre-high figure is still the largest statue in Germany today and stands on a natural stone base made of Teutoburg Forest sandstone of almost the same height at 26.89 meters. At just under 53.5 meters in total, the installation is the fifth tallest of the German national monuments. These must be understood in the temporal context of their creation. They were intended to emotionalize and create a sense of national identity through collective memory. Today, they are a source of controversy. Viewed neutrally, they are witnesses to the mentality of the time in which they were created.
Because of this cultural and historical significance, the Hermann Monument has undergone regular conservation measures over the last 140 years. As various types of soiling had accumulated or formed on the stone surface of the base since then, the Kärcher company offered to clean the monument in 2015 as part of its cultural sponsorship of the Lippe state association. Beforehand, the surface of the building fabric was extensively examined in order to determine the optimal, most gentle cleaning solution for the plinth. This and the project support were carried out by the Landesverband Lippe with the involvement of the relevant monument authorities.
In the end, the decision was made to clean the plinth using steam blasting and low-pressure particle blasting. As the latter is an abrasive cleaning method, a permit was obtained under monument law to regulate the scope of the work.
You can read a comprehensive article on the cleaning of the Hermann monument in the current issue of STEIN 02/2018.