The Prorector of the University of Freiburg Gustav Steinmann as well as the studentry and the city administration were involved.

The aim of the city administration was to create a monument as well as an attractive lookout for citizens and tourists.

The initial plan to build the memorial at Ludwigshöhe was denied by the city administration and today's location was chosen as a trade-off.

Oscar Geiges blueprint was based on the popular design concept Götterdämmerung by Wilhelm Kreis.

A relief of the Reichsadler by Anton Viesel and the crest of the House of Bismarck can be found on the city facing side of the tower.

Media related to Bismarckturm (Freiburg im Breisgau) at Wikimedia Commons