This sandstone plaque, dating from the early 19th century, is set into the wall at the centre of the inner arch of the Gwiazda fort of the town of Głogów. It is dedicated to the memory of the German general Julien Charles Louis Rheinwald (1760-1810), who served in the armies of the Revolution and then of the First Empire.
He entered as a volunteer in the Anhalt regiment in 1777 and took part in the campaigns of the Ocean coasts. Promoted lieutenant in 1791 in the Piedmont regiment, he took part in the capture of Speyer, Worms and Mainz in the years that followed. In 1795, he became chief of staff of the 1st division of the Army of Rhine-and-Moselle and, while holding this post, took part in the defence of Huningue from November 1796 to February 1797. Promoted brigadier general in 1799, appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and then promoted Commander, he then joined the Grande Armée in 1805 and successively took command of Speyer, of Stuttgart and then of the fortress of Brieg. He was raised to the dignity of Baron of the Empire in 1809. On 22 June 1810, while holding the post of governor of Głogów, he succumbed to an apoplectic stroke.
The Gwiazda fort is located to the east of the old town. It was built between 1747 and 1749, at the instigation of the King of Prussia Frederick II, who had undertaken to fortify and secure the town after having taken possession of the greater part of Silesia.
It currently stands on the grounds of the premises of the PKS bus company; its fortified buildings serve as a depot for the vehicles. The fort is difficult to access, as the site is guarded. The building where the plaque is found is, like the whole of the edifice, in a state of ruin, surrounded by debris, scrap metal and waste, in an abandoned part of the grounds. Neither the two buildings of the fort nor the plaque are entered in the register of historic monuments, which makes any restoration work difficult, for want of a legal basis. The plaque is also very damaged; it is heavily eroded and covered with plaster on its lower part and with a large splash of mortar at its centre. Originally, it was surmounted by a cornice and its surroundings were painted black. The insignia of the Legion of Honour appeared above the following inscription, illegible today: "HERE LIES. J.C.L RHEINWALD, French General, Baron of the Empire, Commander of the Legion of Honour, Governor of Glogau. He was indeed … (illegible) … and earned by his loyalty and his humanity the esteem of the inhabitants. He died on 22 June 1810 at the age of 48."