A poignant silence hangs in the air. We stand before the Gedenkstätte Polnischer Kriegstoter a memorial to Polish war victims. This quiet place within the Vorwerker Friedhof in Lübeck holds the stories of those who perished far from home.
This Gedenkstätte is more than just stones and inscriptions. It’s a testament to the human cost of war. It represents the many Polish soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during World War II. Their suffering and sacrifice are forever etched in this sacred space.
In 1990 the city’s Parks and Cemeteries Department established the memorial. Before that no visible markers indicated the presence of war graves. Individual graves hold the remains of these victims. The memorial includes 32 elongated wooden plaques. Each plaque displays names birthdates and death dates. A central gravestone featuring a Jesus figure stands among them. A Polish inscription on the gravestone remembers the fallen. A separate stone bears the inscription “TO REMEMBER ALL THOSE WHO FOUND DEATH IN A FOREIGN LAND”. Nearby another stone remembers 15 Polish women who died tragically far from their families in 1943.
The Gedenkstätte Polnischer Kriegstoter is a place of reflection. It compels us to remember the individual stories of loss and suffering. It serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of conflict on families and communities. The memorial is a powerful symbol of remembrance and reconciliation.
Many Polish prisoners of war were interned at Oflag X C in Lübeck. Twelve names on the Vorwerk cemetery list mention military rank or “Polish Soldier”. These were prisoners who died under various conditions between 1941 and 1945. Among them were soldiers like Major Konstanty Jablonsky who passed away on March 11 1942 and Private Henryk Skaczyla who died on April 4 1942. Others died after the war’s end.
The Gedenkstätte Polnischer Kriegstoter is a moving tribute. It ensures that the sacrifice of these Polish victims is not forgotten. It stands as a constant reminder of the importance of peace and understanding. Let us take a moment to honor their memory. Let us strive for a world where such tragedies never repeat.