Over there rises a stone sentinel. It is the Ehrenmahl f\u00fcr die Opfer der Weltkriege. This war memorial stands in Frankfurt-Seckbach. It is a place of remembrance for the victims of the World Wars. Let’s delve into its history.
The Ehrenmahl f\u00fcr die Opfer der Weltkriege sits within the green spaces of Lohrpark. This park is on Lohrberg, a part of Frankfurt am Main. Specifically, it’s in the Seckbach district. Before this memorial, another stood near the Marienkirche. That earlier monument honored Seckbach residents. They had fallen during the German Unification Wars of 1864, 1866, and 1870/71.
In 1930, the city council decided to erect a war memorial. This Ehrenmahl f\u00fcr die Opfer der Weltkriege was dedicated to the Seckbach fallen of World War I. It was placed in the newly completed Lohrpark on Lohrberg. Representatives from local associations attended the dedication. They donned formal wear and carried flags. They laid wreaths in memory of the 125 Seckbach soldiers. Their names were inscribed on fifteen metal plates.
Nearly fifty years after World War II, the city extended the memorial’s purpose. In 1993, a plaque was added. It was dedicated to the Seckbach victims of that war. Now, the Ehrenmahl f\u00fcr die Opfer der Weltkriege honored those lost in both World Wars.
On Ewigkeitssonntag and Totensonntag, wreaths and floral arrangements are laid. The anniversary of liberation on May 8 is also commemorated. People gather to remember and reflect. Graffiti once marred the outer wall. It was cleaned in 2014. However, efforts to prevent loitering have been unsuccessful.
The Ehrenmahl f\u00fcr die Opfer der Weltkriege covers an area of 5 by 10 meters. A 1.70-meter-high natural stone wall surrounds it. Inside, there is a courtyard with a two-winged gate. The gate features diagonally arranged metal bars. A sand-covered forecourt includes benches and a stairway. The courtyard itself is paved with natural stones. A stone flower bed sits in front of the memorial plaques. The memorial includes a 5-meter-high cross.
Sixteen metal plates are mounted on the wall. They display the names of the fallen from Seckbach. Fifteen plates are arranged in three rows. The sixteenth plate is added to the middle row on the right. The central plaque in the top row bears an inscription. It reads: “Den Gefallenen zum Ged\u00e4chtnis, der Jugend zum Verm\u00e4chtnis”. This translates to: “In memory of the fallen, as a legacy for the youth.” The sixteenth plate from 1993 says: “Den Toten von 1939-1945”. This means: “To the dead of 1939-1945.”
The Ehrenmahl f\u00fcr die Opfer der Weltkriege faces Seckbach on a slope. Bushes and trees largely surround it. The Lohrberger Hang vineyard borders its rear. This vineyard is managed by the city of Frankfurt. From the forecourt and benches, there is an open view. You can see parts of Lohrpark, Seckbach, Huthpark, and the Frankfurt skyline.
Today, the Ehrenmahl f\u00fcr die Opfer der Weltkriege serves as a poignant reminder. It urges reflection on the costs of war. It is a tribute to those who sacrificed everything. Take a moment to reflect on their stories. Remember their legacy.