A chilling silence hangs in the air. We stand before the Gedenkstein f\u00fcr die am 05.04.1945 im Webicht ermordeten H\u00e4ftlinge a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Weimar’s history. This unassuming stone marks the spot where a tragedy unfolded. It commemorates the brutal massacre of 149 prisoners. The Weimar Gestapo committed this horrific act on April 5 1945.
The Gedenkstein f\u00fcr die am 05.04.1945 im Webicht ermordeten H\u00e4ftlinge stands as a testament to their suffering. It’s a sobering tribute to those who perished. The killings themselves happened a few hundred meters away in the Webicht forest. The Gestapo under the command of SS-Obersturmbannf\u00fchrer Hans-Helmut Wolff was dissolving its Weimar office. They burned files in the Marstall building courtyard. They wanted to leave no evidence for the Allies.
From the Gestapo prison in the Marstall and the district court prison the officers made their selection. They chose prisoners slated for death. A list compiled by the senior public prosecutor guided them. They added prisoners of their own choosing. These unfortunate souls were driven towards Webicht. There SS-Obersturmf\u00fchrer Felix Ritter and ten other officers carried out the executions. Seven women were among the victims. The bodies were buried in makeshift bomb craters.
The Weimar Gestapo then retreated to Bohemia. On their way they killed 13 more people. These included military and civilian personnel. They also murdered escaped forced laborers and prisoners. When the bodies were exhumed in July 1945 only 43 could be identified. The victims were cremated in July 1945. They were buried in Weimar’s main cemetery in August 1946.
The Gedenkstein f\u00fcr die am 05.04.1945 im Webicht ermordeten H\u00e4ftlinge was inaugurated on August 3 1963. It was initially in Webicht. Later it was moved to Tiefurter Allee. It now stands near the Tiefurt town entrance sign. This memorial stone is more than just a monument. It is a solemn reminder. It compels us to remember the victims. It encourages reflection on the horrors of the past. The Gedenkstein f\u00fcr die am 05.04.1945 im Webicht ermordeten H\u00e4ftlinge serves as a powerful symbol. It stands as a symbol of remembrance and a warning against the repetition of such atrocities. Let us honor their memory. Let us strive to build a future free from such brutality.