As debates rage over Confederate statues, many argue that honoring former adversaries in public spaces seems absurd or even offensive. Yet, history is littered with examples where societies chose to keep the memory of their opponents standing tall, often for tourism, reconciliation, or sheer historical curiosity. This article dives into those puzzling moments when 10 times people erected monuments to those who once fought against them.
Why 10 Times People Choose to Celebrate Their Enemies
10 Muslims In Spain
Spain’s saga began in 711 AD when Muslim forces crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, launching a centuries‑long presence that would ebb only after roughly eight hundred years of intermittent conflict, cultural exchange, and, inevitably, bloodshed.
It may raise eyebrows that modern Spain not only tolerates but actively maintains statues of those very conquerors. The country preserves monuments to scholars like Averroes, as well as to military leaders such as Almanzor and Abd‑al‑Rahman I—figures who once led campaigns against the native Christian kingdoms.
The rationale is two‑fold. First, the historic narrative draws tourists eager for a rich, layered past. Second, there’s a subtle healing process at play: by keeping visible reminders of bygone foes, Spain invites citizens to confront the full tapestry of its identity, acknowledging how former adversaries helped shape the nation.
9 George Washington In England
From the British perspective, George Washington was the ultimate rebel—once a lieutenant in the King’s militia who later spearheaded the fight that ended colonial rule. To the British public, he was the face of a rebellion that threatened the empire.
So why does a statue of Washington stand proudly in London? After the United States helped Britain secure victory in World War I, the Commonwealth state of Virginia presented a marble likeness of Washington as a diplomatic gift. The United Kingdom accepted, installing the statue in the capital as a sign of renewed friendship.
Legend adds a colorful twist: because Washington vowed never to set foot on English soil again, the statue rests upon a slab of Virginia turf—symbolic soil from his home state—making the tribute both a gesture of goodwill and a playful nod to his historic promise.
8 Native Americans
The European colonists who arrived in North America waged countless wars against the indigenous peoples who already called the continent home. These conflicts, known collectively as the American Indian Wars, spanned centuries and left deep scars on both sides.
Despite that violent history, numerous monuments across the United States celebrate Native American figures. A notable example stands in Pilgrim Memorial State Park in Plymouth, Massachusetts, honoring the Wampanoag chief who aided the Pilgrims. Utah, proud of the statue’s sculptor, installed a replica outside its state capitol, further cementing the tribute.
Perhaps the most imposing tribute is the 48‑foot concrete monolith in Illinois, commonly referred to as the Black Hawk statue. Erected in 1911, it commemorates the eponymous leader of a regional war. When the structure showed signs of wear, the state allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars for restoration, underscoring a continued commitment to honoring a former adversary.
7 Gandhi In England
Mahatma Gandhi, born in British‑ruled India, studied law in London and was called to the English Bar in the 1880s. He later returned to the subcontinent and led a largely non‑violent struggle that ultimately dismantled the British Empire’s hold over India.
In a twist of historical irony, a sizable statue of Gandhi now occupies a corner of London, the very capital of the empire he helped dissolve. The presence of this monument reflects a broader British willingness to acknowledge the transformative impact of former opponents, even when that impact was directed against the nation itself.
6 Mussolini In Italy
Benito Mussolini, the founder of Fascism, orchestrated a regime that unleashed terror across Italy via the Blackshirts and later inspired Adolf Hitler’s own totalitarian ambitions. His reign ended violently: he was executed by fellow Italians, his body displayed upside‑down in Milan’s public square.
Despite the revulsion, Mussolini’s era left a legacy of monumental art. Countless statues and bas‑reliefs glorifying the dictator peppered the Italian landscape. After the war, the nation faced a dilemma: erase these symbols or preserve them as part of its complex heritage.
One small town chose a compromise. The community retained a massive bas‑relief bearing the slogan “Believe, Obey, Combat,” but overlaid it with an LED‑lit quotation from German‑Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt: “Nobody has the right to obey.” This juxtaposition transforms a fascist propaganda piece into a reflective commentary on obedience and moral agency.
5 Soviets In Bulgaria
When the Soviet Union spread its influence across Eastern Europe, it erected countless statues proclaiming liberation—or, from another angle, occupation. In Sofia’s capital, a towering monument claims to celebrate Soviet troops freeing Bulgaria from Nazi control, though the reality of domination remains contested.
After Bulgaria joined the European Union and NATO, the statue remained, becoming a canvas for public commentary. Activists have repeatedly vandalized it, repainting the soldiers in bright pink, draping them in the Bulgarian flag’s colors, or even transforming the figures into pop‑culture icons such as Ronald McDonald, Santa Claus, Superman, and Robin.
4 Memorials In The U.S. To Our World War Enemies
In 1935, the United States erected a German POW memorial at Chattanooga National Cemetery, honoring the 78 German soldiers who perished in American detention camps during World I. The site also contains the remains of 22 German sailors who died in Hot Springs, North Carolina, and numerous others scattered across the South.
A similar tribute exists in Utah’s Fort Douglas. Dedicated on May 30, 1933, the German War Memorial commemorates 21 German POWs who died between 1917 and 1918. Over time, the monument expanded its scope to include 20 German, 12 Italian, and one Japanese POW from World II, turning a former adversary’s grave into a place of shared remembrance.
3 Italian Fascist Monument In Chicago
Chicago’s skyline includes an ancient‑Roman‑style column presented by Benito Mussolini in 1933 to honor his air commander, Italo Balbo, for a historic trans‑Atlantic flight of 25 seaplanes from Italy to the United States.
Despite its fascist origins, the monument survived World II and remains in place today. When anti‑monument sentiment surged, the local Italian community rallied to protect it, arguing that Balbo, while a fascist, opposed Nazi racial laws and that the aviation feat itself deserved recognition.
2 Vichy France Leader Honored In NYC
Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain, once a celebrated World I hero, later collaborated with Nazi Germany as the head of Vichy France, facilitating the deportation of tens of thousands of French Jews.
In 2004, New York City installed commemorative plaques for every individual who ever received a ticker‑tape parade, including Pétain. A review commission recently debated the plaque’s future, acknowledging that while the parade honored a now‑reviled figure, removing the marker could erase a part of the city’s historical record.
1 Communist Leader Vladimir Lenin In Seattle
During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union maintained a precarious balance of power, each amassing nuclear arsenals and supporting proxy wars worldwide. Yet, tucked away in Seattle’s Fremont district, a 16‑foot bronze statue of Vladimir Lenin—architect of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution—stands as a testament to a once‑feared ideology.
The statue’s survival is thanks to an American veteran who mortgaged his home to rescue the piece from a Russian statue graveyard. Since its installation, locals have treated the monument as a playful canvas, adorning Lenin’s hands in red, gifting him a tutu, and draping festive Christmas lights over his shoulders.
Fremont’s own description captures the spirit: “If art is supposed to make us feel, not just feel good, then this sculpture is a successful work of art. The challenge is to understand that this piece means different things to different people and to learn to listen to each other and respect different opinions.”