Opened in 1892 the Cementerio Alemán stands before you. German Protestants struggled to find burial space. They faced similar issues to other non-Catholic immigrant groups. Let me tell you more about this interesting place.
The Cementerio Alemán shares land with the British Cemetery. Walls separate the Cementerio Alemán from Chacarita Cemetery. You can find the entrance along Avenida El Cano. It’s near Avenida del Campo.
Hungarian architect Juan Kronfuss designed the Cementerio Alemán entrance in 1926. He created the chapel in a neoclassical style. The chapel boasts stained glass windows. Franz Mayer in Munich created them. The greenery and manicured plots provide a peaceful escape from Chacarita.
Captain Hans Wilhelm Langsdorff rests here. He commanded the armored vessel Admiral Graf Spee. In 1939 the ship was damaged in the Battle of the River Plate. Langsdorff scuttled the ship off Montevideo. His crew were taken prisoner. Langsdorff was transferred to Buenos Aires. He committed suicide two days later. Some of the crew died waiting for the war to end. They are buried here in Argentina or Uruguay.
The Graf Spee crew aren’t the only Nazis buried in Cementerio Alemán. Rodolfo Freude was part of Perón’s secret service. He may have organized ODESSA. Freude died in 2003. The full story of bringing Nazis and Nazi wealth to Argentina may have died with him.
Jeanette Campbell is another notable figure buried here. She was the first Argentine to win an Olympic medal. Ironically she won at the 1936 Berlin games.
Photographer Annemarie Heinrich is also interred here. She took famous portraits of celebrities and politicians. Her images of Tita Merello and Eva Perón are iconic.
Architect Carlos Nordmann designed the Legislature of La Plata. He also designed its museum and other works across the country.
Alexander Asboth a Hungarian immigrant to the USA is buried here. He commanded Union troops during the Civil War. Later he became the US ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay. Asboth died in Buenos Aires. He was initially buried in Cementerio Alemán. In 1990 his remains were moved to Arlington National Cemetery. You can still see the original tombstone near the entrance.
In 2021 the chapels of the Cementerio Alemán and British Cemetery were restored. This was after years of work. The Argentinian State invested in the restoration. It was the first time in history. Matías Storni is the Administration Manager of the Cementerio Alemán. He stated that the chapel is the heart of the Cementerio Alemán.
As you leave, remember the stories of those interred here. The Cementerio Alemán offers a unique glimpse into Argentina’s diverse history.