Lost souls of Dresden-Leipziger Vorstadt linger here. This is the Weltkrieg 1914-1918 War memorial. It commemorates residents killed or missing in World War I. Dresden, like many German cities, honored its fallen soldiers. They collected names and data to create an “Ehrenbuch” or Book of Honor after the war.
Sadly, the book never materialized. However, preparatory work survived. Thousands of index cards reside in the Sächsisches Staatsarchiv. These cards contain details about deceased soldiers. They offer insights into military, social, and family history.
The Sächsische Landesbibliothek digitized these cards. They are freely available in digital collections. A project aims to virtually reconstruct the Totengedenkbuch. It will make this historical source accessible.
Dresden’s city archives began working on the Totengedenkbuch in 1916. Initially, they planned to record 75000 Dresden soldiers who served. Due to the scale, they focused on recording the deceased. The Weltkrieg 1914-1918 War memorial is connected to these efforts.
They included soldiers born in Dresden. They included military personnel like nurses. Soldiers who lived in Dresden for a “significant time” were also listed. The Ratsarchiv consulted Saxon loss lists. They contacted registry offices and the Saxon War Ministry. They sought information about fallen soldiers.
Families also provided information. Hundreds of letters containing biographies were received. By 1920, over 12000 names were recorded.
In 1923, students began transferring names to a leather-bound book. Professor Paul Rössler designed it. Bookbinder Rudolf Lohse crafted the iron fittings. But the book vanished without a trace. The Weltkrieg 1914-1918 War memorial stands as a testament to this lost book.
The index cards survived with additions made until the 1960s. These cards can be linked to other sources. These sources include soldier’s graves and regimental records.
Despite its research potential, the source was rarely used. Its sheer volume and lack of structure hindered access. Digitization allows presentation beyond the archives. Recording data in a database facilitates research. The project aims to reconstruct the Totengedenkbuch virtually.
The project seeks to determine the number of Dresden’s war dead. The Weltkrieg 1914-1918 War memorial embodies this pursuit. Volunteers are transcribing the index cards. Guidelines ensure consistency. Transcribed data is searchable and exportable. Since the project began, over 1800 cards have been transcribed.
The Weltkrieg 1914-1918 War memorial serves as a poignant reminder. It honors the residents of Dresden-Leipziger Vorstadt. Their names may be lost but their memory lives on.