Käthe-Kollwitz-Gedenkstein

Did the final days of World War II weigh heavily on Käthe Kollwitz’s mind as she resided in Moritzburg? Here, marked by the Käthe-Kollwitz-Gedenkstein, we reflect on her life’s end. Käthe Kollwitz, a renowned German graphic artist, painter, and sculptor, sought refuge in Moritzburg in 1944. Fleeing the relentless bombing of Berlin, she found a haven at the Rüdenhof, a manor house overlooking the serene castle pond. The Käthe-Kollwitz-Gedenkstein stands as a testament to her time in Moritzburg. It marks the place where she spent her final days, creating art even as the world around her crumbled. The war, a recurring theme in her work, had personally ravaged her family. She lost her youngest son, Peter, in World War I and her eldest grandson, also named Peter, in World War II. The Käthe-Kollwitz-Gedenkstein serves not only as a geographical marker but also as a poignant symbol of her resilience. She continued to create, driven by her commitment to social and political commentary, until her death on April 22, 1945. Sadly, she didn’t live to see the war’s end just a few weeks later. Initially buried in Moritzburg, her remains were later moved to the family plot in Berlin’s Friedrichsfelde Central Cemetery. The Käthe-Kollwitz-Gedenkstein invites us to remember her enduring spirit amidst profound loss. It commemorates her life, her art, and the tumultuous times she witnessed, right here in the peaceful sanctuary of Moritzburg.