Resting silently, the Friedhof der Evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Friedrichshagen is more than just a burial ground. It is a testament to history and a sanctuary for reflection.
This cemetery is located in the Berlin district of Friedrichshagen. It serves the St. Christophorus parish. The Friedhof der Evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Friedrichshagen spans 6.5 hectares. Since 1995, it has been listed as a Berlin garden monument.
Let’s step back in time. The first “Totenhof” in Friedrichshagen was mentioned in 1765. It was located behind the Küstergarten. This was east of Bölschestraße. It sat on the property of today’s Müggelsee-Schule. By 1828, it was overcrowded. There was no more space for the town’s 30 annual deaths.
In 1831, King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia gifted the community six Morgen of Köpenicker Forstland. This land was for a new burial site. The new Friedhof der Evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Friedrichshagen was inaugurated on May 17, 1832. The first burial took place on August 22, 1832. In 1835, the old churchyard closed. Any remains found there were reinterred in the new cemetery. Expansions occurred in 1881, 1898, and 1915. A small cemetery chapel was built in 1905. It was a Romanesque brick building. In 1925, it was redesigned and expanded by architect Friedrich Brinkmann.
Many notable people rest here at the Friedhof der Evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Friedrichshagen. Hermann Gladenbeck who was a bronze caster rests here. Felix Görling who was a sculptor and painter also rests here. Furthermore, Robert Thelen who was an aviation pioneer rests here. Friedrich Loeffler who was an orthopedist and university professor rests here. Charlotte E. Pauly who was a painter and graphic artist also rests here. Wilhelm Zaisser who was a politician rests here as well. Hans Sachtleben who was a zoologist also rests here. Wilhelm Schäperclaus who was a fisheries scientist rests here. Bernhard Nowak who was a draftsman and graphic artist rests here. Lucie Groszer who was a publisher rests here as well. Johannes Bobrowski who was a writer also rests here. Margot Ebert who was a television presenter rests here. Friedhart Klix who was a psychologist rests here as well. Helmut Dziuba who was a director rests here. Ezard Haußmann who was an actor rests here as well. Hans Dieter Baroth who was a writer also rests here. Klaus Zeige who was a sound engineer and sound master rests here. Antje Garden who was a television announcer rests here as well. Clemens Grösser who was a painter and sculptor rests here. Finally, Ralf Schenk who was a journalist and film critic rests here.
There is also a war graves site at the Friedhof der Evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Friedrichshagen. It is for those fallen and war victims from Friedrichshagen in the Second World War.
Today, the Friedhof der Evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Friedrichshagen is the second oldest cemetery still open in Köpenick. It is one of the largest burial sites in the Berlin district. It spans almost 65000 square meters. More than just a burial ground, it serves as a place of remembrance. The Friedhof der Evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Friedrichshagen is a tranquil space for reflection. It invites all to remember those who shaped Friedrichshagen.