Frankenberg's cemetery of honor: memorial for the last bomb victims in 1945

Frankenberg's cemetery of honor: memorial for the last bomb victims in 1945

On September 6, 1959, an honorary cemetery was inaugurated in Frankenberg, commemorating the tragic fates of the victims of the Second World War. The Hessian Interior Minister Heinrich Schneider was present at this solemn ceremony. The cemetery honors a total of 131 people, including forced laborers and children, who lost their lives in the bombing of the city. The seven meter high sandstone cross, which was built by pioneers of the Bundeswehr, is particularly highlighted.

The last of the bomb victims, Karl-Ludwig Strauch, found his final resting place in the cemetery in October 1959. It is food for thought that around 95 people died in the attacks in March 1945 alone, with the first attack on March 12 particularly affecting many Russian prisoners of war and forced laborers in the Thonet factory. Some of the victims could not be identified, which is reflected in the name plaques. Terms like “unknown Eastern worker” are used here, which bear witness to the terrible circumstances of that time.

Personal fates

The fates of those who survived are just as moving. Luise Bittner, who survived the attack, provided children's photos of the youngest bomb victim, Agnes Klara Nolte. Agnes, born on June 27, 1938, died in an air raid. These personalized memories combine history with humanity and make it clear that behind every name there is a story.

Another moving moment occurred in 2016 when Joy Thonet, senior manager of the Thonet factory, visited the graves of the bomb victims. She was accompanied by Martin Ranft, a former Thonet apprentice who, as a contemporary witness, kept the memories of these tragic events alive. Memorial plaques in the cemetery of honor also commemorate wounded members of the Wehrmacht who were once housed in a hospital in Frankenberg.

Memories of bombing raids

The experiences of the siblings Maria-Luise and Alfred Müller from Heessen provide further insights into the horrors of the air raids that also hit other regions of the country. During an air raid on the Saxony colliery on February 16, 1945, they and their mother sought shelter in a tunnel that had been created for the colliery's employees. In this narrow space, already filled with people, they waited for hours for help while the bombs collapsed the tunnel. The siblings were trapped for nine hours before the mine rescue team rescued them, and this traumatic incident has left a strong mark on their memories and lives.

The worst attack on the Saxony colliery took place on March 27, 1945, in which 157 people were killed, including many Russian prisoners of war. These events show that the air raids had a devastating impact not only geographically but also humanly, and that the memories of this time are present long after the liberation.

The inauguration of the cemetery of honor in Frankenberg and the stories about the survivors make it clear how important it is to keep the memory of the victims alive and not to forget the lessons from the past. The peace that many have fought for should always be maintained.

For more information about the stories of the bombing and the memories of survivors, visit the articles by HNA and WA.