Battle of the Nations Memorial

The Battle of Leipzig (also known as the Battle of Nations) was the decisive and largest battle of the Napoleonic Wars. It took place from October 16 to October 19, 1813, near the German city of Leipzig. The united armies of Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Sweden crushed the significantly weaker army of French Emperor Napoleon. Shortly thereafter, he resigned and was placed in exile on the island of Elba. The coalition forces were led by Prince Karl Philipp Schwarzenberg, and the author of the allied plans (which were modified during the battle) was his chief of staff, Jan Radecký of Radče.
The largest monument in the European subcontinent is located in Leipzig and is known as the Monument to the Battle of Nations. This monument is one of the most popular in modern Leipzig, attracting thousands of tourists to this Saxon city every year. The monument commemorates the battle of 1813, when the Russian, Austrian, Swedish army, and Prussian soldiers defeated the army of Emperor Napoleon. This battle is considered one of the largest in human history before the 20th century. 
The modern Monument to the Battle of Nations is located in the center of the field where this fateful battle in European history, particularly for Germany, took place. The monument is enormous in size - its height is just over 90 meters, and it features 500 steps leading to its summit, offering visitors a beautiful view. At the entrance to the complex stands a statue of Archangel Michael, who has been regarded by Germans for centuries as the patron of German soldiers. The Hall of Fame of the Monument to the Battle of Nations contains images of 324 riders, as well as allegorical sculptures symbolizing the determination, strength, courage, and faith of the people. 
The design of the monument was created by the German architect Bruno Schmitz, and the cornerstone was laid at the end of 1898. The construction of the monument took nearly 15 years, with its opening timed to coincide with the centennial anniversary of the Battle of Nations. A lottery was organized to fund the building of the monument, which helped gather resources for the project. An artificial lake located by the monument symbolizes the blood and tears shed during wars. 
This monument was used by Adolf Hitler during the Third Reich as a symbol of German greatness. Consequently, after World War II, following the entry of the Soviets into Saxony, people wanted to destroy the monument. However, this ultimately did not happen; the monument was renamed the symbol of friendship between the Soviet and German peoples. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, the reconstruction of the monument began, which was completed to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Nations, in 2013.