Consider this humble wooden cross. It is called Kreuzfall. It stands as a testament to a poignant chapter in Freiburg’s history. This is no ordinary wayside shrine. It marks a site of immense suffering and remembrance.
The Kreuzfall before you is a Fünfwundenkreuz. This translates to a cross with five wounds. This type of cross commemorates a specific historical event. In this case, it honors the sons of the German fatherland. These soldiers died in Freiburg during the war years of 1813-1814. They succumbed to illness as military personnel. They were en route.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Freiburg was a crucial transit point. It was also a gathering place for allied troops. These troops consisted mainly of Austrians, Bavarians, Württembergers and Russians. Over 500,000 soldiers needed provisions. Unfortunately, unsanitary conditions led to outbreaks of dysentery and typhus among the soldiers. To prevent the epidemic’s spread, mass graves were dug. These graves were located in the areas of today’s Metzgergrün and Gewann Eschholz.
Around 1816, the Kreuzfall was erected. It likely came to be through the donation of the Adelhausen Monastery. It served as a memorial to the victims. The cross is crafted from dark-lacquered wood. It features five metal plaques. These plaques depict the wounds of Christ. The artist remains unknown. The image of the head is based on depictions of Saint Veronica’s Veil. Three other plaques show the hands and feet nailed to the cross. A central plaque represents the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
At the base of the Kreuzfall hangs a plaque. It bears an inscription beneath a skull and bones. The inscription is set against a diamond pattern. It features gold arabesques on green. The inscription reads “Around this cross rest thousands of sons of the German fatherland who, as soldiers, fell ill on the way during the war years 1813-1814, died in Freiburg and were buried here. Remember these poor souls in a devout Our Father. O Lord, grant them eternal rest.”
As the area west of the railway line expanded after 1845, the memorial was moved. The Kreuzfall was relocated several times within Stühlinger. The cross was seen as a nuisance. In 1907, the parish curacy even considered it materially and artistically worthless. In 1908, it was moved slightly. In 1920, the entrepreneur Heinrich Brenzinger had it restored. In 1925, he provided a concrete base. Later, the local Freiburg-Stühlinger association maintained the Kreuzfall. In the fifties, it was moved to its current location. This is at the entrance of the former district nursing home. It is west of Eschholzstrasse.
This Kreuzfall is a reminder. It reminds us of the human cost of war. It is a place for reflection. Take a moment to remember those who rest here. Consider their sacrifices. Let their memory inspire peace and understanding.