it was designed after 1864 to remember prussia winning the danish-prussian war. by the time it was finished on 2 september 1873 prussia had also beat austria in the austro-prussian war (1866) and france in the franco-prussian war (1870/1871). a bronze sculpture of victoria was added. "victoria" was high and weighed 35 tonnes. berliners like to give nicknames to famous buildings. they call the statue "goldelse", meaning something like "golden lizzy". she also has the nickname of "chick on a stick".