Why is this tranquil landscape marked by a simple wooden cross? We are standing before the Bockholter Berge, a nature reserve with a somber past. The Bockholter Berge, shaped by glaciers during the last ice age, is a sanctuary of rolling hills, dense forests, and vibrant heathland. But this peaceful landscape bears witness to a darker period of history. On August 14, 1942, two Polish prisoners of war, Franciszek Banas and Waclaw Ceglewski, were unjustly hanged near here. Accused of associating with German women, they were executed without a trial near Kilometer marker 10 on Schifffahrter Damm. This act of cruelty was orchestrated by the SA, who forced local Polish women to witness the execution as a warning. The perpetrators were never brought to justice. Decades later, in 2001, the congregation of Johannes Baptist Church in Gimbte erected the cross and a memorial plaque as a reminder of this tragedy. As you walk through the serene beauty of the Bockholter Berge, remember Franciszek and Waclaw. Their story serves as a solemn reminder of the importance of justice, remembrance, and the enduring power of hope in even the darkest of times.
Lepramuseum
Silent witness. The Lepramuseum stands before us, a solemn reminder of a time when leprosy cast a long shadow over