“The Century Bell: A Symbol of German Freedom on the 175th Anniversary of the National Assembly”

It was cast on the 100th anniversary of the first German National Assembly, which began on May 18, 1848. May 18, 1948 was also the day on which the Paulskirche, which had been burned out and rebuilt after being destroyed in the war in 1944, was inaugurated.

The 2.7-ton steel bell with a diameter of around two meters is considered a symbol of the German freedom movement.

An inscription below the years “1848-1948” in capital letters on the bell reads: “The wheel of the law keeps turning – do not touch the spokes.” The bell also bears the inscription: “We belong to one people and the tribes have merged.” A cross and two relief-like depictions of angels are the only religious symbols on the bell.

175th Anniversary of the National Assembly

Now it can be seen on Paulsplatz for a week on the occasion of the celebrations for the 175th anniversary of the National Assembly on May 18, 2023. Next to it, a stele provides information about ten craftsmen who were elected members of the Paulskirche parliament in 1848. This first people’s representation for all of Germany passed an imperial constitution with “fundamental rights of the German people”. The Weimar Constitution of 1919 and the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany of 1949 were shaped by this. Paulskirche became the “cradle of German democracy”.

The bell of the century was not to be found in the tower of the Paulskirche – it only hung there until 1987. The city of Frankfurt had decided to renovate the Paulskirche the year before. The belfry was also replaced. After the completion of the restoration work in 1991, the bell of the century was not hung again in the tower of the Paulskirche. One reason was that, according to bell experts, their sound was considered “abruptly ringing”.

The Century Bell was stored in an outdoor depot and was exposed to the elements there. “In the meantime, unfortunately, it has fallen silent and will never ring again,” said Mark Appel from the Frankfurt-Rhein-Main Chamber of Crafts.