Grave silence. That is what embraces us as we stand here before the Johannisfriedhof in Osnabrück. It is more than just a cemetery. The Johannisfriedhof is a journey through time. It is a place where stories of Osnabrück’s past lie etched in stone.
Until the early 19th century, Osnabrück’s cemeteries clustered around churches. Space was scarce. Hygiene became a concern. The city council began planning new cemeteries in 1803. These plans took shape during the reign of Jérôme Bonaparte. Existing cemeteries were then closed by order of the royal government in 1808.
For residents south of the city, a plot of land was purchased for 67 Reichstaler. This became the first section of the Johannisfriedhof. In 1808, the gravedigger’s house was built. It cost 65 Reichstaler and was constructed by master mason Holthaus.
As you walk through the Johannisfriedhof, notice the Friedhofskapelle. Construction on this chapel began in 1874. Master mason Wilhelm Pfropfe designed it in the Neo-Gothic style using sandstone. Finished in 1875, it had an interesting feature. City architect Emil Hackländer equipped it with bell pulls in case of apparent death. The gate pillars at the entrance were crafted by sculptor Franz Wagner.
Look towards the center of the first section to see the high cross. Erected in 1887, it is made of Obernkirchen sandstone. The base is Ibbenbüren sandstone. Four symbols adorn it. They are the letter A, the Greek letter Omega, an anchor, and a triangle with an eye. Alpha and Omega represent beginning and end, all-encompassing. The anchor symbolizes Christian hope. The eye in the triangle represents the Trinity.
By 1850, the Johannisfriedhof was filling up. The city bought land from the monastery for a second cemetery. This opened in 1859. A third section followed in 1871. A Jewish cemetery was established in 1876. The fourth section was added in 1885. Plans for a fifth cemetery began in 1905. After disagreements over the price, the city purchased the land in 1909 for 50,000 Marks. City architect Lehrmann designed a gate with two buildings between the fourth and fifth sections.
The fifth section contains a war grave site for World War I dead. Twelve Finnish soldiers are buried separately. They died in a train accident in 1918. For their 100th death anniversary, a delegation of Finnish generals honored them. Russian and Serbian prisoners of war also rest among the World War I dead. The war grave site for World War II dead is in the oldest part of the Johannisfriedhof. Serbian prisoners could use the Jewish section to bury their dead.
In 1965, the city council decided to close both the Hasefriedhof and Johannisfriedhof at the end of 2000. Burials had declined. Only family plots were being used. Earth burials were possible until 1985 and urn burials until 1995.
The initial plan was to close the cemetery in 2015. But in December 2015, the council changed the cemetery rules. Now the Johannisfriedhof is officially “out of service” according to the cemetery statute. It remains a cemetery, but it now serves as a park for recreation.
Among the notable graves is that of Clemens Lipper. His grave pillar dates back to between 1742 and 1813. Lipper belonged to the collegiate foundation of St. Johann. He worked as a neoclassical architect. Herbord Sigismund Ludwig von Bar, a high-ranking official, also rests here. The painter Franz Hecker, who died in a bombing raid, is buried in the Hecker family plot. The Wieman-Grothaus family plot holds the remains of writer Bernard Wieman and actor Mathias Wieman. Flugpionier Gustav Tweer, who died testing a new aircraft, is also buried here. The Hammersen family’s Jugendstil grave site features no inscribed stones. This followed Norwegian custom.
The Johannisfriedhof is a place of rest. It is a reminder of lives lived. It is a green space for reflection. Take a moment to appreciate the history and the peace found here.