Trauernde Alte

The sculpture *Trauernde Alte* stands in Bochum, a city in the Arnsberg region that suffered severe bombing in November 1944. Created by the artist Gerhard Marcks, it commemorates the victims of the Second World War. The statue was unveiled on 11 December 1953 on the church square beside the rebuilt Pauluskirche. The work is a powerful reminder of loss. Marcks carved an elderly woman gazing into the distance, her grief expressed in her posture. The figure is made of basalt lava and has darkened over time. A plaque at its base reads: “Den Opfern von Gewaltherrschaft und Krieg 1933–1945.” Each year on 4 November a wreath is laid here to mark the city’s war dead. Visitors find the statue on a quiet square near the Pauluskirche. The surrounding area is calm, allowing the sculpture’s solemn presence to be felt. Opposite stands a mosaic by Ignatius Geitel, adding to the site’s commemorative character. The figure’s quiet strength makes it the city’s most important memorial to the horrors of war.