Lost in thought I stand before Friedhof der St. Hedwig und St. Pius Gemeinde. This peaceful place holds a poignant history. It is a Catholic cemetery in Berlin-Alt-Hohenschönhausen. Two sections make up this sprawling site. They are the St Pius cemetery and St Hedwig cemetery IV. Each boasts a generous 6.4 hectares.
The Friedhof der St. Hedwig und St. Pius Gemeinde is more than just rows of headstones. It is a testament to faith and resilience. Established in 1890 it’s a significant landmark. Over 2000 graves here belong to victims of war and oppression. The St Hedwig section even features memorial groves. They honor Belgian Dutch and Soviet war victims.
The centerpiece is the cemetery chapel. It’s also known as Kreuzkirche or Heilig-Kreuz-Kapelle. Architect Adolf Brückner designed it in the Neo-Gothic style between 1905 and 1907. It’s unusually large for a cemetery chapel. In 1932 it became a parish church. The Heilig-Kreuz-Gemeinde used it until 1988. Then it returned to its original purpose.
Within this hallowed ground rest notable figures. Gottfried Brunner a Catholic theologian is buried here. So is Wilhelm Koch-Hooge a renowned actor. Even Herbert Stöß a Generalmajor for the DDR’s Ministry of State Security finds his final resting place here. Others include Heinz Dieter Tschörtner a prominent editor and publisher Wolfgang Weider an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Berlin and Johannes Kleineidam another auxiliary bishop. Jürgen Dummer a classic philologist Alexander Georgiew a painter Ilse Tschörtner a translator and Helmut Lück a journalist also rest here. Their lives their stories their legacies are woven into the fabric of this cemetery.
This isn’t just a cemetery. It is a place of remembrance a sanctuary for reflection. Each grave tells a tale a testament to lives lived. The Friedhof der St. Hedwig und St. Pius Gemeinde silently witnesses the passage of time. It stands as a powerful reminder of Berlin’s rich and often tumultuous past. Take a moment to absorb the serenity. Let the quiet dignity of this place speak to your soul.