International Women's Day

As in 2023, we want to set an example of recognition and appreciation for all women on Women's Day in 2024. That is why Fleurop florists will be decorating monuments to women with flowers throughout Germany on Women's Day. This campaign is intended to draw attention to the significant contributions of women who, despite the smaller number of monuments dedicated to them, have made unforgettable contributions to our society. 

It is a visible commitment to honor the achievements of women in history while raising awareness of the existing inequality in public recognition.

# 1 - The chatty women "Mägdebrunnen" (Stralsund)

At first glance, the Mägdebrunnen seems to depict a stereotypical image of women, but the performance can also express social cohesion and mutual support. Historically, public spaces such as fountains were important places for women to meet and exchange information, which was often one of the few opportunities for women to participate in public life in a male-dominated society. It can therefore be interpreted as a tribute to the strength and perseverance of women in the community, who often maintain the social fabric through their relationships and communication.

# 3 - Statue of a midwife (Horneburg)

The monument stands in memory of the two women from Horneburg, the midwife Olga Marie Katharina Bähr (1908-1994) and the so-called "woman of the dead" Katharina Lütje (1898-1980), who stood by the dying in their last hours and then assisted their relatives. The memorial is representative of the many dedicated women who all deserve to be honoured accordingly.

# 4 - Agnes Heineken (Bremen)

Agnes Heineken (1872-1954) was an educator, women's rights activist and politician. At the time, access to education for women was systematically restricted and she campaigned for the education and advancement of girls and women. She was a pioneer in the educational landscape of her time, whose efforts contributed significantly to improving educational opportunities for girls and recognising the importance of women's education. Her work remains an important chapter in the history of education and the women's movement in Germany.

# 5 - Gänseliesel fountain (Göttingen)

In the 20th century, women were clearly subordinate to men and had hardly any rights. With the placement of the Gänseliesel on the market square in 1901, the female presence in public life was strengthened and made visible. This female figure eventually also became a Göttingen landmark and therefore deserves flowers, especially on Women's Day - even without the tradition of kissing.

# 6 - Peace dams (Berlin)

The peace statue is a memorial to the comfort women - women and girls who were systematically abducted by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War and forced into sexual slavery. It is estimated that 200,000 women and girls were involved. The peace statue thus stands as a symbol against war crimes and a sign of hope for these women and for victims of sexualised violence worldwide.

# 8 - Rosa Luxemburg (Berlin)

Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) is still regarded as a symbolic figure of left-wing politics today. Many see her as the greatest left-wing politician of the 20th century or even of all time. She was an important Marxist theorist, socialist and revolutionary who is known for her role in the socialist movement against capitalism and monarchy in Germany and internationally. After the First World War, there was a revolution in Germany and at the beginning of 1919 she was treacherously murdered. Her legacy as a theorist, activist and symbol of the fight against oppression and for social justice lives on in many political movements around the world. Her fighting spirit and determination were extraordinary and make her a role model for many.

# 9 - Trümmerfrauen memorial (Berlin)

The Trümmerfrauen memorial honours all the women between the ages of 15 and 50 who were involved in rebuilding the city in the post-war period. In 1946, the new newspaper of the East German CDU warned that a woman's main task was still to be a housewife, mother and to give birth. It was not until 1965 that the former women of the rubble were honoured by the Lord Mayor. The statue symbolises the recognition of female work, visibility in the public sphere and criticism of traditional gender roles.

# 10 - Lasker-Schüler monument (Wuppertal)

Else Lasker-Schüler (1869-1945) was a Jewish poet, draughtswoman, outsider and flamboyant and is considered one of the most important voices in 20th century German literature. She devoted herself primarily to women's poetry and depicted female desire with great candour. She is directed against the 19th century's hostility towards instinct and lust. Her poetic legacy is of lasting importance. Her works are still valued today for their originality, powerful language and their ability to express profound experiences.

# 11 - Clara Zetkin (Leipzig)

Clara Zetkin (1857-1933) was a socialist and women's rights activist who spent her life campaigning for equality, workers' rights and international peace. She played a central role in the international socialist movement and was instrumental in the founding of International Women's Day on 8 March, which was first celebrated in 1911. She was convinced of the need to combine the fight for women's rights with the fight for social justice and against capitalism. Clara Zetkin remains a source of inspiration for feminist and socialist movements worldwide to this day.

# 12 - Käthe Kollwitz (Moritzburg)

In 1919, Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) became the first woman to become a member of the Prussian Academy of Arts and was also appointed professor. With her art and leaflets, she campaigned against post-war hardship, hunger, misery and human loneliness. She also took a stand against National Socialism and after the National Socialist takeover, Käthe Kollwitz was asked to leave the Prussian Academy of Arts. 

# 13 - Trümmerfrauen memorial (Dresden)

"Now we were suddenly on an equal footing, authorized to do any dirty work. We didn't fight the war, we just lost it. Somehow we were born at the wrong time. We were young, our only luck, that was our bad luck. Because that will never come back. I'm so glad that young people are better off today. So much came - comes - too late for us. Or too early. We were single without a divorce and wore grandma's clothes even then. We were so young and already so spoiled. Our values had died with the people. We crawled to work to avoid dying, but life was really just vegetating." (Peter Ensikat, 1981) Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

# 14 - Rosa Luxemburg (Dresden)

Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) was born into a Jewish family in what was then the Russian Empire (now Poland) and her talent was already evident in her childhood: she learned five languages and taught herself to read and write. She graduated from high school in Warsaw at the top of her class and became politically active early on. Her activities and commitment repeatedly brought her into conflict with the authorities and her public protests against war eventually landed her in prison. She calls for the proletariat to take power and warns of the impending war. Rosa Luxemburg is not even 50 years old and her death marks a tragic end to her life and her revolutionary endeavors. 

# 15 - Rosa Luxemburg (Zwickau)

Rosa Luxemburg's political commitment to the workers' movement and anti-militarism earned her many opponents. She described imperialism as the great power of all evil and saw world peace in danger. Together with Clara Zetkin and Karl Liebknecht, she founded the Spartacus Group, which later became the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). She criticized the reformist policies of the SPD and campaigned for a revolutionary transformation of society. Among other things, they rejected the idea of a dictatorship of the proletariat. In 1919, the so-called "Spartacus Uprising" was triggered against the transitional government under Friedrich Erbert. Although the Spartacus group only took part after the uprising had begun, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were hunted down and murdered as leaders.

# 16 - Rosa Luxemburg (Weimar)

Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) was above all a champion of the workers' movement for those who thought differently. The murder of her and Karl Liebknecht goes down in history and marks a tragic end to her life and her revolutionary aspirations. Most of those involved in these murders were never brought to justice and the officer responsible later claimed that the Reich Chancellery had given him the go-ahead by telephone - although this cannot be proven beyond doubt to this day. Her body was also only found months later. Around 10,000 people follow her funeral procession.

# 17 - Rosa Luxemburg (Erfurt)

The most famous quote by Rosa Luxemburg from her 1918 manuscript "The Russian Revolution": "Freedom only for the supporters of the government, only for members of a party - however numerous they may be - is not freedom. Freedom is always freedom for those who think differently. Not because of the fanaticism of "justice", but because all that is instructive, salutary and purifying about political freedom depends on this essence and fails of its effect when "freedom" becomes a privilege."

# 18 - Bertha von Suttner (Bonn)

She was a pacifist, writer and the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless commitment to peace and her work to promote disarmament: Bertha von Suttner (1843-1914). She was also the woman who inspired Alfred Nobel to endow the prize. Above all, she fought against the discrimination of women, repressive sexual morals, poverty, class rule, narrow-minded nationalism, anti-Semitism, religious fanaticism and even against animal testing. In 1899, she was the only woman and non-governmental representative to take part in the 1st Hague Peace Conference in The Hague. 

One of her famous quotes: "Revenge and always revenge! No sensible person would want to wash away ink stains with ink, oil stains with oil. Only blood, that is to be washed away again and again with blood."

#19 - Fountain Billinganlage (Fürth)

The ironically exaggerated figures provide life and variety - the female role dominates in this bizarre interplay of a colourful society. The women are completely at peace with themselves and this place. The sculptor makes no claim to philosophical depth with this depiction, yet the aesthetics of the design not only represent the acceptance of diverse body images, but also emphasise the presence of women.

# 20 - Sculpture "Three Muses of Music" (Regensburg)

Three women playing the violin, tuba and guitar: The depiction of the muses as female figures representing creative inspiration and musical expression emphasizes the importance and contribution of women in music. It emphasizes the role of women not only as muse and source of inspiration, but also as active creators and interpreters of musical art. Accordingly, the sculpture can be interpreted as a recognition of women's abilities and contributions to culture and a critique of their historical marginalization.

# 21 - Liesl Karlstadt Fountain (Munich)

Liesl Karlstadt (1892-1960) was an important actress and comedian. Together with her stage partner Karl Valentin, she performed as a successful comedy duo for 26 years. Liesl Karlstadt was known for her versatility and comedic talent. However, her career was hampered by health problems and crises, which kept her away from the stage for a time. Nevertheless, she left behind an impressive artistic legacy that is still remembered today.

# 22 - Elise Aulinger (Munich)

Elise Aulinger (1881-1965) was one of the most popular Bavarian folk actresses. She managed to bring the characteristics of her characters to life and convey authenticity through her acting. She began her radio career in 1925 with a reading, establishing a tradition of Bavarian radio that continues to this day. Even though her name may not be as well known today, she was still considered one of the leading character actresses of her time in the genre of popular theater.

# 23 - Marieluise Fleißer (Ingolstadt)

Marieluise Fleißer (1901-1974) wrote her first play at the age of 22. Her texts deal with the war between men and women, speechlessness and misunderstanding, the longing for closeness, desire, violence and oppression. When she describes couple scenes, they are always fight scenes. Marieluise Fleißer has always dared to write about taboo subjects, even though scandals and outrage are the result. The naturalistic and blunt way in which Fleißer dealt with topics such as sexual exploitation and the oppression of women in a patriarchal society stood in stark contrast to the conservative moral concepts of the time. Scenes showing sexual permissiveness and criticism of military and bourgeois authorities were particularly provocative.

# 24 - Erna Scheffler (Karlsruhe)

Erna Scheffler (1893 - 1983) was not only the founding president of the Soroptimist Club Karlsruhe, she was also the first female judge to be appointed to the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. The daughter of an oil mill owner, she was born in Breslau on 21 September 1893, studied law as a young woman and passed her second state examination in 1925. After the end of the Second World War, she initially worked in Berlin, then moved to the Düsseldorf Administrative Court in 1949 before coming to Karlsruhe in 1951. As early as 1950, she spoke at the German Lawyers' Conference in favour of equal rights for men and women, an issue she pursued throughout her life. The Soroptimistinnen Karlsruhe are honouring Erna Scheffler's gravesite with the creation of a bust by the sculptor Bronislava von Podewils.

# 25 - Luise von Baden (Karlsruhe)

Luise Marie Elisabeth von Baden (1838-1923), born Princess of Prussia, was the daughter of Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany. She was known for her social commitment and charity work. She actively promoted the founding and support of social institutions such as hospitals, educational centres and orphanages. Her work had a significant impact on improving social conditions in Baden. Her connections to the leading European dynasties, including through her relationship with the British Queen Victoria, strengthened her role in the diplomacy and society of her time. Luise von Baden is still honoured today for her deep social awareness and her commitment to improving social conditions.