Here stands the Reichspräsident von Hindenburg Plaque. It’s a somber reminder of a tumultuous time in German history. This plaque is on the Riesensteinweg’s north slope near Heidelberg.
The Reichspräsident von Hindenburg Plaque commemorates Paul von Hindenburg’s death in August 1934. It also marks the forced labor that occurred that year. The Reich Labour Service installed the two memorial stones on August 3 1934. They were placed on the retaining wall of the Riesensteinweg.
Originally, a swastika stood between the numbers of the year 1934. In 1946, this forbidden symbol was chiseled out.
The Riesensteinweg is located on the Gaisberg. It is below the Johannes-Hoops-Weg. You’ll find it at the foot of the disused red sandstone quarry. The footpath is generally easy to walk. However it ends in the undergrowth after about 500 meters.
The plaque’s placement links to the economic crisis of the early 1930s. This crisis caused high unemployment in Germany. In 1932, during the Weimar Republic, unemployment reached six million. To improve the economy, the Reich governments under Brüning in 1932 and Hitler in 1933-34 introduced measures. These included the Voluntary Labour Service, the Reinhardt Programme, and the Reich Labour Service.
The Reich Labour Service required young men to work for six months before military service. The goal was to train German youth in the spirit of National Socialism. They aimed to foster a sense of community and respect for manual labor.
In 1934, Heidelberg began expanding the Riesensteinweg. This expansion aimed to create a counterpart to the Philosophenweg. The Riesenstein, with its unique rock formations, attracted geologists and the public. The area was designated a natural monument on June 27 1939.
During the Riesensteinweg construction, Reich President Paul von Hindenburg died on August 2 1934. The Voluntary Labour Service honored him with this Reichspräsident von Hindenburg Plaque. It was placed in the retaining wall.
The inscription reads: “DES REICHSPRÄSIDENTEN V. HINDENBURG ERRICHTET AM 3. AUGUST 1934”.
In the same year, Chancellor A. Hitler took over the office of the deceased Reich President. He became commander-in-chief of the German armed forces. Work on the Riesensteinweg ended quickly in 1935. Only 400 meters of the path and retaining wall were completed. The reasons remain unclear.
The identities of those involved in the Riesensteinweg’s expansion are unknown. Forced laborers may have been involved before being moved to build the Ehrenfriedhof.
In 1945, Mayor Carl Neinhaus ordered the destruction of numerous files. These files included service files from the personnel and organization office. They were burned in the Heidelberg City Hall’s heating cellar. These documents were missing after 1945. They were needed to investigate administrative processes during the Nazi era. Documents related to the Riesenstein’s protected area designation survived. They were stored in the Baden Ministry of the Interior in Karlsruhe.
The Reichspräsident von Hindenburg Plaque remains a stark reminder of a complex past. It invites reflection on the events that shaped Heidelberg and Germany.