Karl Wach

German architect Karl Wach studied in Hannover at the Technical University and later taught in Düsseldorf at the Academy of Arts. He was a representative of the so-called Düsseldorf brick architecture and was classified as an architect of New Objectivity between World War I and the Weimar Republic. As an example, he designed the interior of the high speed steamer “Bremen”, but also department stores, mine shafts and churches. From 1928-46 Wach owned an office in Düsseldorf together with his colleague Heinrich Rosskotten.

His entry in the art competitions was most likely his draft for the so-called Schlageter-Forum in Düsseldorf, developed for a competition advertised by the Hitler Youth in 1934. Around the already existing monument for Albert Leo Schlageter, a complex would be created with an open-air stage for 100,000 persons, an exhibition area and a stadium park. The Rhine stadium by Balduin Schilling was to be integrated in the latter. Although Wach won a “first prize”, the winner of the competition was Erich, Herr zu Putlitz. In the projected form, the plans were never implemented.

Karl Wach had already designed a Reichsehrenmal mit Stadion (Reich cenotaph with stadium) in 1926, which was to be built on two islands in the river Rhine near Lorch. This design was not realized either.