Monument for Kaiser Wilhelm I

In 1896 at the beginning of Liepų street (Alexander) there was built a monument to King Frederick William I (German: Friedrich Wilhelm I) (1861-1888), which name was popular for the reason that during his ruling Germany defeated France. The monument was created by sculptor Robert Baerwald. It was a 2.7 m high statue depicting King William I with the General clothing. The figure was raised on a 3 m high quadrangular granite pedestal. In its front side an inscription was carved: „Wilhelm der Grosse“.

The other three sides of the pedestal were decorated with the bass-reliefs depicting William I and his family life‘s moments in Klaipėda. In one of them there is depicted King, hereupon – Prince, reporting about the start of his military service in Klaipėda. In the second one Queen Louise is pictured while putting on Prince wreath of cornflowers. The third bass-relief depicted meeting of William‘s I father King Frederick William III (German: Friedrich Wilhelm III) with Emperor of Russia Alexander I in 1802.

Since Klaipėda had no representative square, in this place there were held soldiers parades and in 1807, after having taken here up the royal couple‘s residence, the Prussian Army National Guard marched in goose market, located in those days at the beginning of Liepų street.  

After the construction of the monument to William I, this place was renamed in behalf of Monument Square. On public holidays here workshops‘ corporations, other public organizations gathered.

Former Klaipedians remember that monument „Borussia“ was overthrown in 1923 on April 8 at night. (Lietz G. und H. Unserer Abendteuerliches Leben, 1994). In 1939 monument to William I was rebuilt in other place of Liepų street – Turnplatz (current – Donelaičio square). During the Second World War monument disappeared.   

In 1939 Germany having regained the Klaipėda region Alexander Square was renamed in behalf of Adolf Hitler.

After 1945 bombing the square has suffered, later it was replanned.