Picture a serene landscape. Here lies the Friedhof Heerstraße. It is not just any cemetery. It is a place of rest for many famous Berlin personalities. But the Friedhof Heerstraße is more than just a burial ground. It’s a journey through art, history, and the lives of notable figures.
The Friedhof Heerstraße might confuse you with its name. It is not located on Heerstraße. Instead, it resides on Trakehner Allee. The location is near the Olympic Stadium. The name comes from the Villenkolonie Heerstraße. This was a residential area. The cemetery was originally for its residents.
The Friedhof Heerstraße is one of Berlin’s most beautiful cemeteries. It spans 149,500 square meters. You will notice a sign at the entrance. It warns: “Please close the door! Danger of wild boars!”
The Friedhof Heerstraße has terrace-like grave rows. You walk down from the entrance. Then you must climb back up. Your reward is the beautiful scenery. There is also a lake. Its name is Sausuhlensee. It may not sound romantic. But it adds to the cemetery’s charm.
The Friedhof Heerstraße was created from 1921 to 1924. Edwin Barth might have been involved. He was a well-known garden architect.
Many prominent Berliners are buried at the Friedhof Heerstraße. One of the most famous is Vicco von Bülow. He was also known as Loriot. He was buried here on August 30, 2011. Loriot was a beloved comedian. He created famous sketches and films.
Psychiatrist Karl Ludwig Bonhoeffer rests here. The nerve clinic in Wittenau is named after him. Painter George Grosz is also buried here.
Many famous actors are buried at the Friedhof Heerstraße. They were known from the stage and screen. These include Grete Weiser, Tilla Durieux and Horst Buchholz. Curt Goetz and Wolfgang Gruner are here too. Klaus Jürgen Wussow also rests here. Writers like Joachim Ringelnatz, Ferdinand Bruckner and Arno Holz are here.
One of the most remarkable graves is that of Georg Kolbe. He was a famous sculptor in the 1920s. He designed his family’s burial site himself. Kolbe lived near the Friedhof Heerstraße. His house is now a museum. It holds many of his works.
The Friedhof Heerstraße is a park and forest cemetery. It was meant for the residents of Villenkolonie Heerstraße. In April 1912, the cemetery became interdenominational. It was for all of Greater Berlin. The forest area grew from 0.6 to 5 hectares. Erwin Barth designed the cemetery. Erich Blunck designed the buildings.
A large part of the Friedhof Heerstraße slopes steeply to Sausuhlensee. The lake was formed from two small ponds during the cemetery’s construction. Barth adapted the design to the terrain. The paths curve down to the lake. In the flatter west part, Barth created a circle. Most paths lead to it. The existing trees, mostly pines, were kept. New deciduous trees were added. The cemetery opened on October 7, 1924.
The Friedhof Heerstraße originally covered only the west side of Sausuhlensee. The area east of the lake was for expansion. A crematorium was planned opposite the hall. A footbridge would connect them. The expansion plans were dropped in 1935/1936. The area became part of the Reich Sports Field.
The Friedhof Heerstraße is one of Berlin’s finest cemeteries. It has 51 honorary graves. This is more than other prominent cemeteries. A community grave site was opened on May 21, 2010. It is run by the German War Graves Commission. It is located east of the lake. Urn burials and earth burials take place here.
The Friedhof Heerstraße is a place of history and beauty. It is a reminder of the people who shaped Berlin. Take a moment to appreciate the peace. Remember the lives and legacies that surround you.