The Statue of Independence (Statuia Independenței) is a war memorial in Focșani, standing in front of the former Palace of Justice, now the Vine and Wine Museum. Created by sculptor Oscar Späthe and inaugurated on June 29, 1916, it commemorates the soldiers from the former Putna County who lost their lives during the Romanian War of Independence of 1877-1878.
The monument was commissioned through the efforts of local military officers, politicians, and civic leaders, particularly Generals Gheorghe Macarovici and Ion Rașcu and politician N. N. Săveanu. Construction was financed through public donations, although difficulties in raising the necessary funds delayed the project for several years. The statue was eventually unveiled during the First World War, honoring the soldiers of the 10th Dorobanți Regiment who had fought for Romanian independence nearly four decades earlier.
The approximately 6.5-meter-high monument consists of a bronze sculptural group mounted on a substantial stone pedestal. A Romanian infantryman is depicted advancing into battle beside a female figure representing the nation, who carries a flag and gestures toward victory. A bronze relief on the pedestal portrays the assault on Grivița on August 30, 1877, one of the major engagements of the war. The monument also bears the names of 245 fallen soldiers, including Major Gheorghe Șonțu, who died during the fighting at Grivița, together with inscriptions commemorating their sacrifice.
