Aachen, North Rhine-Wetphalia, Germany — Central Europe
Der schnitzende Pennsoldat
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The Whittling Soldier
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 21, 2023
1. Der schnitzende Pennsoldat / The Whittling Soldier Marker
Zur Aufbesserung ihres kargen Wehrsolds schnitzten die Wachsoldaten dünne Holzpinne (mundartlich Penn) zur Schuhbesohlung.
Als Persiflage auf die bewaffneten Stadtsoldaten, im Volksmund nur Pennsoldaten genannt, gründete sich Aachens ältester Karnevalsverein am 3. März 1857 unter dem Namen Stadtgarde “Oecher Penn“ von 1857 e.V.
The whittling “Penn” soldier statue commemorates the Aachen city militia, which was stationed here to guard the “Marching” Gate.
To supplement their meager military pay, the guards carved thin wooden pins (in dialect: Penn) used by shoemakers for soling shoes.
As a satire on the armed city soldiers, popularly known as Penn soldiers, Aachen's oldest carnival club was founded on March 3, 1857 under the name Stadtgarde “Oecher Penn” von 1857 e.V.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Military. A significant historical date for this entry is March 3, 1857.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, Central Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Alemannia Aachen Football - Main Station / Hauptbahnhof (about 240 meters away, measured in a direct line); Aachen Hauptbahnhof / Aachen Main Railway Station (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Mord an Behinderten / The Murder of the Disabled (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); GESTAPO (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Kreuzigungsgruppe Henger Herrjotts Fott / Crucifixion Tableau “Behind the Lord’s Buttocks” (approx. half a kilometer away); Franziska Schervier (approx. half a kilometer away); Homosexuelle / Homosexuals (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Aachener Dom / Aachen Cathedral / La Cathedrale de Aix-la-Chapelle (approx. 0.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aachen.
More about this marker. A “carnival club” in Germany functions much the way a Mardi Gras crew would in the US, and not-so-coincidentally, at the same time of the year.
Also see . . . “Allen Wohl und Niemand Wehe (Stadtgarde “Oecher Penn“ von 1857 e.V.).
Excerpt (in translation:)(Submitted on December 4, 2023.)Aachen's oldest and - currently with more than 800 members - largest carnival club was founded on March 3, 1857. Emerging from the Aachen singing society “Concordia” and the Aachen carnival society “Florresei”, the Oecher Penn city guard originally saw itself as a satire of the armed Aachen city soldiers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This is also where the origin of the name “Penn” can be found: According to tradition, the city soldiers supplemented their meager military pay by carving thin wooden pins, which were used by the shoemaker trade to sole shoes. These soldiers were then popularly called Penn soldiers.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 21, 20232. Der schnitzende Pennsoldat / The Whittling Soldier and Marker
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 21, 2023
3. Marschiertor / Marching Gate
The statue and marker are visible here just to the right of the archway.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 4, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
