A park-like idyll unfolds not far from the famous Stiftskirche Ebersdorf. This is the Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf. It serves as a place of memory and reflection. It also offers rest.
The Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf was newly created at the beginning of the 19th century. Before that, the deceased were buried in the churchyard around the church. Here at Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf, the deceased of the local community rest. People from neighboring villages found their final resting place here, too.
The Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf is also the final resting place for hundreds of deceased prisoners of war. They were held in the nearby prison camp during the First World War. You can find more information about the prisoner graves here.
Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf has a park-like layout. Dense, high vegetation and winding paths characterize it. Numerous benches invite visitors to linger. At the entrance, a beautiful avenue welcomes you. You will also find the cemetery hall here.
Many older graves have been preserved at Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf. One example is the grave of Hugo Fischer. He was the operator of Lichtenwalde Castle Mill and a direct descendant of Knight Dietrich von Harras.
At Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf, a memorial stone commemorates Italian soldiers. A monument honors those who fell in the First World War. The architecture here still exemplifies Art Nouveau style.
The relatively loose layout and the pond surrounded by trees give the Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf its park-like character. The hall on the cemetery can accommodate about 30 people. Various burial options exist. There are grave sites for earth and urn burials. There are also easy-to-maintain row graves. Burials in the urn community facility are possible too.
The graves of 703 prisoners of war from the First World War are historically interesting. Information boards on the back of the cemetery hall tell of this time. They also tell of the fate of prisoners of war in Chemnitz.
In Chemnitz-Ebersdorf, one of four Saxon and 175 German prisoner-of-war camps existed. It was here from December 1914 to February 1921. With 23,098 prisoners on October 10, 1918, deaths were inevitable. These resulted from malnutrition, lack of defenses or typhus and influenza waves. Their number rose to 785. 614 names can still be found on the preserved plaques. Russians, Frenchmen, Italians, Serbs, four Britons, a Belgian, a German interpreter and a Canadian rest here. They were Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, Muslims and a Jew.
A collection authorized in advance by the camp management was made by the French prisoners. This made it possible to erect a monument on the cemetery to commemorate the deceased prisoners of war. The inauguration took place on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916. It was at half past nine in the morning in a manner appropriate to the seriousness of the time. 250 prisoners from the five prisoner companies and several German officers participated. Easter Monday was probably chosen against the background of the resurrection. The French adjutant Dessain thanked the camp commander Max Heinicke for approving the monument. The Russian priest Jarotzki, specially assigned from the Döbeln officers’ prisoner camp, explained that the monument would honor the memory of the dead for all time. He then consecrated the graves according to Russian custom. The French Abbé Bach also addressed the audience. Then the graves were also consecrated according to Roman Catholic custom. Finally, the prisoners paraded past the monument in companies with military greetings.
The sandstone monument weighs about 3.5 tons. The Frenchman David Debrock created it. He was a prisoner-of-war sculptor from Dunkirk.
The graves were upgraded to a memorial site in 1964. This was part of the “Atonement” campaign. The graves were on the left of the main path until then. They were moved to the right side. Two panels were placed back to back and fixed with steel clips. Since then, the entire memorial complex is located directly behind the hall.
In 2011, the Stiftskirchgemeinde Ebersdorf added another memorial plaque. It commemorates all victims of war, terror and violence. It is located at the rear monument.
Today, the Stiftsfriedhof Ebersdorf remains a place of peace. It is a reminder of human suffering and resilience. Take a moment to reflect on the lives and stories. They are contained within this tranquil space.