Dying is only the beginning. Here at Friedhof Öjendorf, we see how life continues in memory and legacy. Friedhof Öjendorf is not just Hamburg’s second-largest cemetery. It is a sprawling parkland. It offers a serene space for reflection and remembrance.
The story of Friedhof Öjendorf begins in the 1930s. The city elders recognized that Ohlsdorf Cemetery was nearing capacity. Hamburg acquired a large plot in Öjendorf in 1933. The area was 317 hectares. It cost 2.2 million Reichsmark. Only part of this area is used as a cemetery today. The larger part is Öjendorf Park. It features Öjendorf Lake.
Imagine this area as a former gravel pit. It was transformed starting in the mid-1930s. It was renatured to become a parkland. A tree nursery was established to prepare the grounds. The adjacent Öjendorf Park was created in the early 1950s. It was built on rubble and transformed into a nature reserve. The cemetery itself was designed as a park cemetery.
The first burials at Friedhof Öjendorf took place in 1955. They were in the northern part of the grounds. This was the “Italian War Cemetery.” The cemetery officially opened on July 14, 1966. Since 2013, Friedhof Öjendorf has been part of the “Hamburger Friedhöfe.” This is a public institution that also includes Ohlsdorf, Volksdorf, and Wohldorf cemeteries.
Today, Friedhof Öjendorf spans 98.7 hectares. It features a rich stock of trees. Rounded lawn grave fields are separated by wooded areas. The natural valley of the Schleemer Bach borders the eastern edge. Friedhof Öjendorf welcomes all nations and religions.
You will find various types of graves here. There are lawn graves. There are anonymous burials. Some graves feature a shared headstone. Burials can even take place under trees. You can also find burials in an urn wall. A crematorium is located in the center of the Friedhof Öjendorf. Approximately 2,200 burials take place each year.
A five-kilometer ring road provides access throughout the grounds. There are parking facilities along the way. A bus line has served the Friedhof Öjendorf since the early 1980s.
Let’s talk about the Italian War Cemetery. This section holds 5,857 Italian victims of Nazi tyranny. Most were reinterred here between 1956 and 1958. They came from Bremen, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, and Schleswig-Holstein. The graves are arranged in five groups around a high cross. Each grave has a pillow-shaped stone. The rank and name are engraved on it. Some stones simply say “unknown” or “Lav. Civ.” for civilian worker.
Since 1978, Friedhof Öjendorf has also provided burial plots for Islamic burials. These plots are oriented towards Mecca. Special rooms are available for ritual washing. An expansion for Muslim burials officially opened on November 21, 2008. This section was designed with the Shura. It resembles a prayer rug in its layout. A stone table for laying out the deceased is present. There are also washing stations for feet washing.
A memorial commemorates those moved from Hamburg’s old cemeteries. This is located in section 318. The remains were moved here in the summer of 2005. This occurred during the expansion of the Congress Center Hamburg. The old cemeteries were located on the site of the expansion. A saying is inscribed on a boulder. It honors the achievements of ancestors. “ERAMUS QUOD ESTIS – ERITIS QUOD SUMUS.” “What you are, we were; what we are, you will be.”
Friedhof Öjendorf is more than just a final resting place. It’s a place of respect, remembrance, and reflection. It is a testament to Hamburg’s diverse communities. Take a moment to appreciate the peace and history.