Beneath these tranquil grounds lies a tapestry of lives. Welcome to the Friedhof Reinickendorf. This cemetery is more than just a final resting place. It is a testament to Reinickendorf’s history. The Friedhof Reinickendorf first opened in 1897. It sits near the old Humboldt Hospital. Originally, it served as the second cemetery for Reinickendorf.
Over time, the Friedhof Reinickendorf has evolved. In the 1970s, a significant change occurred. The district decided to consolidate war graves. They moved as many victims of both World Wars as possible to the first cemetery. This relocation was completed in 2003. The former first cemetery is now the Kriegsgräberfriedhof Reinickendorf. The II. Städtische Friedhof Reinickendorf became the Friedhof Reinickendorf.
Today, the Friedhof Reinickendorf spans 15.7 hectares. Carl Moritz designed its ceremonial hall in 1897. It stands as a protected historical landmark.
Among the notable figures buried here is Otto Beyer. He was a painter and graphic artist. Klaus Brueske also rests here. He was a victim of the Berlin Wall. Fritz Hausberg is buried in the Friedhof Reinickendorf. He was a local politician and an honorary citizen of Berlin. Horst Kollat a member of the Berlin House of Representatives is also interred here. Meta Omankowsky, also a member of the Berlin House of Representatives and honorary citizen, lies here. Hermann Schulz, a resistance fighter, found his final resting place here. Olga Segler, another victim of the Berlin Wall, is buried here.
However, the Friedhof Reinickendorf holds a unique treasure. It has the tomb of Arthur Strousberg. Arthur, the son of the “railway king” Bethel Henry Strousberg, died of consumption at 23. His father commissioned a magnificent tomb. The renowned sculptor Reinhold Begas created it.
The life-size sculpture shows Arthur’s grieving wife. She holds his hand as he lies on a sarcophagus. Two nude children play at his feet with wreaths of roses. One child looks at him questioningly. An overturned hourglass lies on the ground.
Bethel Henry Strousberg went bankrupt. Begas eventually cast it in bronze at his own expense. He displayed it at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. It won a Grand Prix. After Begas’ death, the city of Berlin purchased it. They placed it near the Friedhof Reinickendorf chapel. In 1928, Richard Ermisch added a columned hall of red brick. This protects it from the weather. The city created a place of devotion for “hearts burdened by sorrow.” It provided no information about the artist or the background of the Strousberg family.
The Friedhof Reinickendorf is a place of peace. It is a final farewell and also a place of history. Take a moment to reflect on the stories etched in stone all around.