The Nagelsäule – Nail Pillar in Mainz

I remember going past this tall pillar last time I was in Mainz, so did some research on it to tell the kids. 

The Nagelsäule – Nail Pillar – has stood beside the Liebfrauenplatz  near the Cathedral since 1916.

I believe that there are no other pillars like this left in existence - so its pretty special. 

In the first world war, as things started to turn from bad to worse for the Germans, the Mayor of Mainz decided to put on a show of solidarity and fundraising for the war effort. 

They erected this 7 metre pillar made from an Oak tree,  and put the Iron Cross on the top with the words “In Kriegsnot helf uns Gott” (“God help us in times of war”) 

Its decorated in large rings, with the top dedicated to war, under it the state and under it love - as in brotherly love. 

The bottom ring is an area that people  could decorate it nails which represented certain amounts of donations. The nails cost 1 Mark  - about 5 Euros. There were gold coloured ones as well for 20 Marks. People could then hammer their nail in. Quite alot of money was raised which was then sent to soldiers spouses and children suffering the war.

Its a pretty spectacular sight.