Lost in the urban sprawl of Berlin’s Pankow district stands Friedhof Pankow II. A quiet haven amidst bustling streets. This unassuming cemetery holds a captivating history. It’s a story of growth challenges and ultimately a quiet ending.
Friedhof Pankow II opened in 1876. Pankow’s population had exploded. The original cemetery was overflowing. The town council bought land for a second cemetery. They paid 1000 Taler for it. A mortuary was built the same year. The cemetery expanded further in 1880 and 1891. The final purchase cost 17100 Mark. It was then home to the town’s poorhouse. The gravedigger even lived there. The building is now used for assisted living.
In 2004 Friedhof Pankow II closed its gates to new burials. A city plan had mandated its closure. However the existing graves are protected. They remain available for ongoing maintenance until their legal resting periods expire. This could be as late as 2090. The right to secondary burials extends the cemetery’s life.
The cemetery’s chapel is a designated historical landmark. Built around 1900 it reflects Biedermeier style. It also echoes the architectural work of Karl Friedrich Schinkel. The architect’s name remains lost to time.
Among the notable graves are those of the Eisenhardt and Übernicki-Szeliga families. A police chief and a general were also laid to rest here. Willi Wohlberedt meticulously documented the earlier graves. These graves however were cleared. Their legal resting periods have elapsed. No extensions were granted. One notable exception is the newer headstone of Georg Rauchfuß 1880-1939. It remains in section II.
The cemetery’s location in the midst of expanding residential buildings decreased its appeal. More prominent burials occurred at the central cemetery on Kreuzstraße. Its transformation into a crematorium further removed its exclusivity.
Mayor Carl Hoff 1843-1894 rests here. So do preacher Otto Leopold Class 1809-1895 and playwright Rudolf Kneisel 1832-1899. The equestrian Lina Rosenstock 1875-1895 known as Adelina de Rosen is buried here too. Prussian officer Emilian von Übernicki-Szeliga 1826-1910 and poet Uwe Greßmann 1933-1969 are also interred here.
Today Friedhof Pankow II stands as a testament to the past. It quietly reflects on the lives it once held. It serves as a poignant reminder of the city’s ever-shifting landscape. While closed to new interments its history and those who rest here continue to echo through time.