Doesn’t the somber silence of this place speak volumes about the cost of war? We stand before the Ehrenmal für die Gefallenen der Weltkriege Frankfurt-Seckbach. It is a war memorial in Frankfurt am Main. This memorial is dedicated to the fallen soldiers of Seckbach. They perished in the World Wars.
The Ehrenmal is located within the green spaces of Lohrpark. It sits atop the Lohrberg. This is in the Seckbach district of Frankfurt am Main. The memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made.
Originally, a war memorial honored those fallen during the German Unification Wars. These wars took place in 1864, 1866, and 1870/71. That earlier memorial stands before the Marienkirche’s cemetery. It features a cuboid base. An obelisk-like structure tops it. Names and dedications are etched into the stone.
In 1930, the city council decided to erect a new memorial. This one would honor the Seckbach fallen from World War I. It was built in the newly completed Lohrpark on Lohrberg. The location is part of the Berger Rücken. The dedication ceremony was a significant event. Local associations sent representatives. They wore formal attire and carried flags. They also brought wreaths. The memorial listed 125 names of Seckbach soldiers on fifteen metal plates.
Nearly fifty years after World War II, the city of Frankfurt decided to expand the Ehrenmal. It would include the Seckbach fallen of that war too. On November 23, 1993, a new plaque was added.
Today, the Ehrenmal serves as a site for remembrance. Wreaths and floral arrangements are laid. This occurs on Ewigkeitssonntag. It also happens on Totensonntag. The anniversary of liberation on May 8 is another day of remembrance.
The Ehrenmal occupies a 5×10 meter area. A 1.70-meter-high natural stone wall surrounds it. The site includes an open courtyard. A two-winged gate made of diagonal metal bars provides access. A sand-covered forecourt offers seating. Steps lead up to the memorial. The courtyard is paved with natural stones. A flower bed sits in front of the memorial plaques. A five-meter-high cross dominates the Ehrenmal.
Sixteen metal plates are mounted on the wall opposite the entrance. These list the names of the fallen from Seckbach. Fifteen plates are arranged in three rows. The sixteenth plate was added to the middle row on the right. The central plate of the top row bears an inscription. It reads “Den Gefallenen zum Gedächtnis, der Jugend zum Vermächtnis”. This translates to “In memory of the fallen, as a legacy for the youth”. The sixteenth plate from 1993 reads “Den Toten von 1939–1945” or “To the dead of 1939–1945”.
The Ehrenmal faces Seckbach. It is surrounded by bushes and trees. The Lohrberger Hang vineyard borders its rear. The vineyard is managed by the city of Frankfurt. The forecourt and benches offer views. You can see the Lohrpark, parts of Seckbach, the Huthpark, and the Frankfurt skyline.
The Ehrenmal für die Gefallenen der Weltkriege Frankfurt-Seckbach is more than just a monument. It is a place for reflection. It is a testament to the enduring impact of war. It serves as a reminder of the importance of peace.