Monument to the naval officer Hellmann from Neisse, who died during the German China expedition during the “Boxer Rebellion”:
Blunt pyramid with eagle (removed sometime in 1940s?), portrait, and dedication. In front of the monument there is an anchor, flanked on the side by two cannons (torn down).
In memory of Hans Hellmann,
the city of Neisse and the navy erected a memorial in Neisse, “Hellmannstein”. For its decoration, Kaiser Wilhelm II personally provided two cannons captured in the Chinese defenses as well as the anchor and
chain of the cruiser SMS Cormoran , which was also used off the Chinese coast .
After the town became part of Poland in 1945 the German population was expelled and the German monuments were demolished.
Hellmann was born 6th December 1873, the son of Johannes Hellmann (the "father of the fire departments of Silesia"). He grew up in Neisse, joining
the navy as a midshipman in April 1892 and became a lieutenant at sea in September 1895 . He was first assigned to the Second Sailor Artillery Department and then served on the training ship SMS Stein .
In
November 1898 he was promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the staff of the gunboat SMS Iltis II . When the Boxer Rebellion broke out in the spring of 1900, the German Empire also sent the Iltis to the
Chinese coast - together with ships from other countries.
On the morning of June 17, 1900, the Chinese began shelling the ships lying in front of the Taku forts in the mouth of the Pei Ho River. This turned
into a fierce battle. On board the Iltis , Hans Hellmann was the officer responsible for the ship's artillery . During the course of the battle, the Iltis was hit by 21 shells. Hellmann and six crew members were killed,
the commander's leg was shattered and another ten crew members were seriously wounded. Hellmann was the only German naval officer to die in combat before World War I.
There was a commemorative medal, minted on the occasion of the unveiling of the Hans Hellmann monument, see below. If anyone has a copy of this medal forsale pls let me know.
References:
Hans Hellmann (officer)Hans Hellmann (Offizier)
Neisse (China-Expedition 1900), Kreis Neisse, Oberschlesien
Hans Hellmann
Inscriptions:
( Portrait with eagle )
ON JUNE 17, 1900 FELL ON BOARD
SMS ILTIS
IN THE GLORIOUS SHARDING
OF THE TAKUFORTS
OF THE EMPEROR. OBLT. HELLMANN
FROM NEISSE
Neisse (China expedition 1900), Neisse district, Upper Silesia
Today: Nysa, Nysa County, Województwo opolskie, Poland