“We Toten – wir Toten sind größere Heere als ihr auf der Erde.” These words echo through time at the Gedenkstein für die Gefallenen aus Sudweyhe. This monument stands as a solemn tribute to the fallen. It honors those lost in the First World War.
The Bremen Senate decided to erect a memorial to honor the fallen of World War I on October 6, 1933. Architect Heinrich Friedrich Wiepking and sculptor Ernst Gorsemann were entrusted with the planning and execution. The memorial’s inauguration took place on October 13, 1935, on the Altmannshöhe. General von Fritsch, Mayor Heider, and State Bishop Weidemann attended. On May 29, 1936, the sculpture “Mother and Children” by Ernst Gorsemann complemented the memorial.
Imagine the scene that day. High-ranking military officials, civic leaders, and a somber public gathered to dedicate this space. The Gedenkstein für die Gefallenen aus Sudweyhe became a focal point. It was a place for mourning and remembrance.
The structure itself is striking. A ring wall composed of 10,000 differently tinted clinker bricks bears the names of the fallen in alphabetical order. Opposite the opening inside stands an elongated altar-like stone on a flat base. Outside the ring wall, facing the memorial, stands Ernst Gorsemann’s stone sculpture. A woman holds a small child in her arms. Another larger child stands protectively before her.
Consider the symbolism. The ring wall encircles and contains the memory of loss. The altar-like stone invites reflection and prayer. The mother and children represent those left behind. They embody the hope for the future even in the face of devastation.
During the war, both the structure and the accompanying sculpture sustained damage. Restoration occurred on May 27, 1963. Sadly, the destroyed name stones were never replaced.
Originally, an inscription ran above the name stones. It declared that the dead are a greater army than those on Earth. It spoke of planting fields with patient deeds and reaping the harvest. The inscription touched on love, hate, struggle, and the enduring impact of the fallen. Conrad Ferdinand Meyer wrote this poem. His words lent dignity to the Gedenkstein für die Gefallenen aus Sudweyhe.
Another inscription on the ring wall commemorates those who fell in the battle for Bremen on February 4, 1919. They belonged to the Freikorps Caspari and the volunteer Division Gerstenberg. Their names are listed there.
In 1945, six bricks were removed. They bore the names of NSDAP members who had fallen in the fight for the Third Reich. This act reflects a complex history. It shows how memory and politics intertwined at the Gedenkstein für die Gefallenen aus Sudweyhe.
The “altar” bears the dates 1914-1918. It states that 10,000 men and youths went from this city to war and death. The reverse side quotes the Gospel of John. It says that no one has greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.
The Gedenkstein für die Gefallenen aus Sudweyhe stands as a testament. It reflects the enduring need to remember sacrifice and strive for peace.