Here stands a plaque for Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof. It stands as a reminder of a tumultuous past. This Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque marks a site of somber history. It is a place where lives intersected with tragedy during and after World War II.
The Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof was once a cemetery. It was established in 1945 amidst the chaos of war. The cemetery served as a final resting place. It was for 108 people from Karolinenhof, Schmöckwitz and Schmöckwitz-Siedlung. They were buried here between May 1945 and November 1946.
Among those interred were civilian war victims. Twenty individuals from Schmöckwitz also rest here. They took their own lives as the Red Army approached.
By 1970, the Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof was closed. The gravestones were removed. Nature reclaimed the land.
In 2015, a local historian named Wolfgang Stadthaus sought to uncover the forgotten history. He researched the burial ground and initiated a memorial. The Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque was erected on May 5, 2015. It marked 70 years after the war’s end.
The Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque bears an inscription. It is dedicated to the 103 adults and 5 children buried here. Their names are listed in five columns. The listing is not in alphabetical order.
Tragically, vandals destroyed the Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque shortly after its installation. Stadthaus spearheaded a new initiative. Now a boulder stands near the plaque with the letters RIP.
The Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque project involved local students. Konfirmanden from Eichwalde-Miersdorf-Schmöckwitz researched the cemetery’s history. They cleared debris from the site. They marked the original boundaries.
Stadthaus located the names of those buried. He found them in archives. His research revealed a poignant detail. Twenty Köpenickers had died by suicide at the war’s end.
The Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque serves as more than a historical marker. It stands as a warning against war and tyranny. It reminds us of the human cost of conflict. The plaque also recognizes the importance of remembering those who suffered.
The Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque is located at Adlergestell, Jagen 40. The site is across from a gas station at Schappachstraße.
A wooden sign points the way. The Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque is a short walk into the woods. It is mounted on a metal pole.
Wolfgang Stadthaus published his research. It is available in his book “Versunkene Friedhöfe in Schmöckwitz und Karolinenhof.” This book provides more information about the Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof.
Let us take a moment. Let’s remember those who rest here at Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof. May this Waldfriedhof Karolinenhof plaque remind us of the importance of peace.