Satan statue sparks scandal and death threats in German city
The bronze statue was erected in memory of an urban legend, according to which a merchant recognized Satan and deceived him by giving him an onion instead of an apple. The devil was depicted at the time of defeat
German police are investigating death threats against the mayor of Esslingen-on-Neckar Matthias Klopfer because of the placement on the main city square of the statue of the “Zwibling devil” (in Russia, the “Satanism movement” is recognized as extremist and banned), writes Bild with reference to the representative of the city administration Marcel Mayer.
“There has been a specific call for murder against the Ober-Bourgemaster and numerous insults. All these cases were reported to the police, said Mayer.
In addition to death threats, more than 5,000 local residents have signed a petition against Satan.
The height of the bronze statue is 2.5 m, it was created by local artist Tim Bengel and installed in front of the town hall. The sculpture is dedicated to a medieval legend, explaining the nickname of the inhabitants of the city – Zwieblinger, associated with the German word Zwiebel (“bow”). According to legend, the devil came to the city market to taste an apple, but the merchant recognized it by the hoof and instead of the apple gave him an onion, thereby deceiving him.
The devil is deliberately portrayed not as the victor, but as the vanquished at a moment when the cunning of the townspeople destroys his plans. Satan has horns, hooves, a long protruding tongue and a distorted face in disgust. In his hand he holds an onion that rises above the figure.
The statue was presented to the city by the wine company Kessler on the occasion of its 200th anniversary in 2026. The sculpture should preserve the local tradition for future generations and become a symbol of urban identity. In addition, its installation is timed to the 1250th anniversary of Esslingen, which the city will celebrate in 2027.
The statue was erected on October 4. Authorities report that the opening ceremony was attended by a large number of visitors who left a lot of positive feedback. At the same time, there was “real outrage” on social media.
As a result, on the night of Saturday, October 10, vandals painted the sculpture black, and some local residents began to publish in their social networks calls for violence, damage to property and calls for murder.
“Art in public space can generate a variety of reactions and receive mixed assessments. This is understandable and part of a lively discussion of art in the public environment. When a work of art calls for violence and damage to property, when calls for murder are published and when anger spills into such actions, for us this means crossing a red line.
In connection with the threats, local authorities not only appealed to law enforcement agencies, but also announced the possibility of installing video surveillance on the Town Hall Square.
The mayor of Esslingen-on-Neckar has assured that the statue will remain. “It enriches public space. Everyone can stop, reflect and make up their own opinion about it, the head of the city said and stressed that this is what art should push. According to the mayor, the statue is criticized mainly by religious and right-wing populists.
"The forces that are now stoking outrage there are not doing our city any good," Ludke says. We churches in Esslingen, Catholic or Protestant, are not afraid of the devil. Jesus defeated the devil. That's what the onion legend says. "So we're taking it easy.".
The local church has made no claims over the statue. The Dean of the Evangelical Church District of Esslingen, Klaus-Peter Ludke, called the hatred spread by opponents of the sculpture a bigger problem. “The forces that are now stoking outrage there are not good for our city. We of Esslingen, Catholic and evangelical, are not afraid of the devil. Jesus defeated the devil. That's what the onion legend says. So we are treating it calmly, he said.
