Świdnica. Obelisk commemorating Prussian and Austrian soldiers who died as a result of the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866

In Świdnica, in the Youth Park (Park Młodzieżowy), stands a modest stone obelisk commemorating Prussian and Austrian soldiers who died as a result of the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866. The monument is located at the intersection of Armii Krajowej and Kolejowa streets and is one of the few remnants of the garrison cemetery that was liquidated during the Polish People's Republic era. The war, which broke out on 16 June 1866, was a struggle for hegemony in the German Confederation; the Austrians were defeated at the Battle of Sadowa on 3 July 1866, although they had earlier won a victory at Trutnov on 27 June. Peace was signed on 23 August 1866. Wounded soldiers from both sides were brought to Świdnica's field hospitals, where they died not only from their wounds but also from epidemics of cholera and typhus. The obelisk was unveiled on 18 October 1868 at the garrison cemetery. It is four-sided, placed on a three-step base, on which there were originally four marble plaques with the names of the deceased – altogether commemorating 61 soldiers, including 42 Prussian and 19 Austrian. One of the plaques was lost; during conservation in 2006, a new one was placed in its stead, dedicated to the memory of victims of wars from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. At the base of the pedestal there is an inscription: 'To the resting victims of the plague of 1866. Erected on 18 October 1868'. This place invites reflection on the difficult history of 19th-century Europe and is interesting for history enthusiasts and those strolling through the park.