Who were Marianne and Germania? What was the importance of the way in which they were portrayed?

Marianne and Germania were the allegories of French and German nation respectively.

Marianne : She underlined the idea of people's nation. Her Characteristics were drawn from those of Liberty and the Republic- the red cap, the tricolour and the cockade. She was erected in public squares to remind the public of the national symbol of unity and to persuade them to identify with it.

Germania : Germania wears a crown of oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism.