Monument to Friedrich Wilhelm von Reden

The monument to Friedrich Wilhelm von Reden stands in Hutników Square in Chorzów. It is a reconstruction of a 19th-century monument, unveiled on 6 September 2002. It is meant to commemorate the Prussian official who contributed to the development of Upper Silesian mining and metallurgy.

Who Reden was

Friedrich Wilhelm von Reden (1752-1815) was a Prussian statesman. He played an important role in the development of Upper Silesian industry, including the founding of the Royal Steelworks (Huta Królewska), from which today's district of Chorzów took its origin.

History of the monument

The bronze sculpture was made in 1850-1852 by Theodor Erdmann Kalide. It showed Reden in miner's dress, with a map in one hand and a miner's pick in the other, with a lump of ore at his feet. The monument was about 3.1 metres high and stood on a marble plinth, and it was unveiled on 29 August 1853 on Reden Hill (today Wzgórze Wyzwolenia) in Królewska Huta.

On 18 July 1939 the monument was destroyed, on 7 July 1940 it was recreated, and in 1945 it was damaged again during the entry of Soviet troops. The original head of the figure went to the museum in Chorzów.

Practical information

• Hutników Square, Chorzów; the monument stands in an open space.
• Right next to it is the Teatr Rozrywki.