Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder has announced that a bust of Franz Josef Strauß, the legendary CSU party icon who lived from 1915 to 1988, will be inducted into the prestigious Walhalla Hall of Fame near Regensburg. Söder made this announcement during his keynote address to CSU state parliament members at the Upper Franconian Monastery of Banz near Bad Staffelstein, according to participants who attended the event.
The Walhalla, constructed in 1842 by Bavaria's King Ludwig I in the neoclassical style, stands as one of the most defining monumental buildings in Bavaria and serves as a major tourist attraction. The hall currently houses 132 busts commemorating German-speaking personalities of lasting historical significance, along with 65 memorial plaques that preserve the memory of important historical events.
Among the distinguished figures honored in the Walhalla are monarchs such as King Henry I, writers and scholars including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, and religious figures like Martin Luther. The most recent addition to the hall was scientist Max Planck. The inclusion of modern party politicians has been rare, with notable exceptions including Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and member of the CDU. Plans are also underway to include a portrait of Jewish publicist Hannah Arendt in the hall of fame.
The process for admission to the Walhalla follows a specific protocol established by the Bavarian government. Any citizen can submit proposals for inclusion to the Bavarian Ministry of Science, which then evaluates the candidate's suitability in collaboration with the Academy of Sciences. The final decision regarding admission must be made by the Bavarian Council of Ministers.
The name "Walhalla" originates from Germanic mythology, where it represented a place of honor for fallen warriors. King Ludwig I chose this name as he sought to connect with this ancient tradition, particularly influenced by his experiences during the Napoleonic Wars. The proposed inclusion of Strauß represents a significant recognition of his impact on Bavarian and German politics, marking another milestone in the hall's long history of honoring influential German-speaking figures.
