Wittekind Monument Herford

A new Wittekind memorial was created in Herford in 1959, as the previous one had fallen victim to the war. Like many things in connection with the well-known Duke of Saxony, this monument was created with regard to a legend. Wittekind or Widukind is said to have thought about which belief was the right one one day while riding across the Wiehengebirge.Monuments of the Wittekind
The impetus for the whole thing is said to have been a church visit on his part, where he is said to have attended the service in the clothes of a beggar. Now he hoped for a clear sign from above that would give him the certainty that the Christian faith was the true one.At a certain point his horse stopped, scratched and a spring came to light. Wittekind interpreted this as a sign of being converted to Christianity. The bronze and stone memorial in Herford is intended to bear witness to this process (source: wittekind-bad.de/denkmaeler.html)

Other Wittekind statues:
A Wittekind statue can also be found in Nienburg, but it is by no means as important as the Wittekind monument in Herford.The Wittekindsburg in Wallenhorst is also worth seeing. The castle, whose foundations can still be seen today, is said to have been Wittekind's retreat after he lost a major battle.Much is still reminiscent of the life of the Saxon duke. For example, old finds such as medals, coins or documents are reminiscent of those times. These artefacts are now exhibited in museums and visitors can marvel at the medals. Among other things, numerous hiking trails are known after him. In addition, quite a few schools bear the name of the legendary heroes of the past. The Wittekind myth lives on in many ways. Last but not least, this can be seen in the annual celebrations of the anniversary of his death in Enger.
(Source: wittekind-bad.de/denkmaeler.html)

The statue is the only oversized Wittekind monument in Germany. It stands on Wilhelmsplatz in Herford and is reminiscent of the Saxon Duke Wittekind. He was the Duke of Saxony who led the split tribes of the Saxons united against the Franks in battle. The fountain describes the miracle of the spring through which the half-dying Wittekind became a Christian and submitted to his superior enemy, the Frankish king Charlemagne.