Consider the rustling of leaves. It carries whispers of stories from the Ostfriedhof. This isn’t just any cemetery. The Ostfriedhof is Leipzig’s second-largest municipal burial ground. It spans almost 20 hectares.
Established in 1879, the Ostfriedhof evolved. It started as a simple village cemetery for Reudnitz. Later, it served Anger-Crottendorf. By its opening, a mourning hall stood near the Oststraße entrance. Sadly, this hall is no longer there.
Oberbaurat Scharenberg designed a new chapel. It opened on April 24, 1902. Since 1950, a Meissen porcelain carillon resides in the chapel. It’s Leipzig’s oldest porcelain carillon. Six bells range from 19.8 to 31 centimeters in diameter. The carillon’s chimes echo at select times.
The Ostfriedhof has three main entrances. The main entrance is on Oststraße. It leads to the oldest part. Another entrance is on Zweinaundorfer Straße. A pedestrian entrance exists on Sulzbacher Straße.
Special burial areas dot the Ostfriedhof. There’s a Soviet memorial. Plots exist for forced laborers from various nations. German Wehrmacht deserters are also remembered. A Polish memorial honors World War II victims. Since 1997, a Muslim burial field respects Islamic rituals.
The Ostfriedhof’s chapel is accessible via the Oststraße entrance. A wide road leads to the building. Parking spaces are conveniently located.
The chapel complex is impressive. Its size accommodates large funeral services. The Meissen porcelain carillon is remarkable. Inside, the chapel offers 48 seats and 30 standing places. A large waiting room provides space for mourners. The chapel’s interior includes a harmonium and sound system. Visitors can also request custom music.
Originally, the Reudnitz community established a cemetery in 1843. Due to space constraints, they relocated it in 1879. The new location was outside the city on what is now Oststraße. In 1892, the Trinitatis parish of Anger-Crottendorf formed. They also used the cemetery. Thus, it was sometimes called Trinitatisfriedhof. The name Ostfriedhof first appeared in Leipzig directories in 1942.
Reudnitz and Anger-Crottendorf merged with Leipzig in 1889. Consequently, the city’s garden department managed the Ostfriedhof. It became the main burial site for Leipzig’s eastern district. This required expansion. City garden director Otto Wittenberg oversaw the eastern and northern additions. The original small chapel was demolished. City building director Otto Wilhelm Scharenberg built the current chapel in 1902.
After the 1917 Russian Revolution, a special section emerged. It catered to Russian Orthodox exiles. Many came to Leipzig. Here, a Russian church community thrived.
During the early 1940s, director Nikolaus Molzen expanded the Ostfriedhof eastward. This more than doubled its size. In the immediate post-war years, residents used Molzen’s extension to grow vegetables.
Emil Paul Börner created the porcelain carillon for the chapel in 1950. It was the first of its kind in Leipzig. A Muslim burial field was established in 1997. Tree burials have been possible since 2015.
Several notable Leipzig figures are buried here. Hermann Eduard Förster, owner of the Förster piano factory rests here. Nikolaus Molzen, Leipzig’s garden director from 1920 to 1948, is also interred here. The Ostfriedhof also holds Max Borsdorff. He was a printer and co-founder of the Leipzig Spartacus League. Felix Skoda, a painter and graphic artist, is buried here. Event manager Peter Degner also rests here. Renate Drescher, a director, is also buried here.
The Ostfriedhof stands as a serene testament. It reflects Leipzig’s history. It also honors the lives of its citizens.