Friedensweg (Rhön)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peace way
Thematic board near the Schmerbach desert
Thematic board near the Schmerbach desert
map
Map of the hiking trail
Data
length approx. 40 kmdep1
location Bavaria and Thuringia
Supervised by Citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld e. V.
Markers Friedensweg Wegmarkierung.png
Starting point Former border crossing Eußenhausen / Meiningen
50 ° 29 ′ 1 ″  N , 10 ° 20 ′ 21.4 ″  E
Target point Birx
50 ° 31 '40.9 "  N , 10 ° 2' 54.7"  E
Type Themed hiking trail
The highest point approx. 800 m
Viewpoints i.a.

The Friedensweg is a 40 km long themed hiking trail along the former inner-German border between the National Monument Sculpture Park German Unity near the former border crossing Eußenhausen / Meiningen and Birx in the Rhön . It deals with life with and on the former border. The trail was created by the association “Citizens for gentle tourism in Hermannsfeld e. V. ”and published a corresponding accompanying book.

history

background

The area that the hiking trail crosses is shaped by the former inner-German border. The immediate border area of ​​the GDR was a restricted area , which severely restricted the free movement of people . Furthermore, settlements were affected by the two forced resettlements on the inner-German border , "Aktion Verziefer" and "Aktion Kornblume". Towns like Schmerbach were relocated, as were homesteads. Towns that were not evacuated, but their existence was questioned by the SED regime , had not been allowed to attract negative attention beforehand in order to show loyalty to the state. Birx and Melpers were designated as eligible villages.

This situation and various personal reasons led to escapes and attempts to escape from the GDR , as a result of which the border was reinforced with anti-personnel mines and self- firing systems.

On the other side of the border, because of the Fulda Gap, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment guarded the border in several places in order to be able to react in time in the event of a military strike by the Warsaw Pact states .

Origin of the way

In 1996 the association developed the idea of ​​creating a hiking trail along part of this border and providing it with information boards. The hikers should not only be made familiar with recent history, but also with nature and the historical conditions of the time before 1945. After the strong commitment of the association chairman at the time, Hella Wilhelm, the neighboring districts of Schmalkalden-Meiningen and Rhön-Grabfeld as well as the neighboring communities supported the initiative. Local history researcher Gerhard Schätzlein wrote the texts on the tables ; volunteers put up the signs in the designated places. In 1997 the path was opened. The neighboring communities help with the maintenance of the path.

In 1999 the association published the first edition of an accompanying book, and in 2001 it was published in an expanded edition. From the beginning it was thought to bring the idea of ​​the Friedensweg to other regions as well. An extension from Henneberg to Alsleben was planned .

Further development

The Friedensweg itself was not extended in its classic form, i.e. with small information boards at the location or in the vicinity of the events affecting the border, as well as a larger inclusion of the German landscapes and communities along the former border. Nevertheless, it is now part of the “Green Belt” border hiking trail, which connects to the north of Birx and east of the former border crossing. The route runs largely on the territory of the former GDR, the corresponding boards are provided with more information per board at far fewer board locations. This area runs from the Czech border along the former border to the former border crossing Eußenhausen / Meiningen, corresponding to the Friedensweg to Birx and from there mainly northwards to the Bay of Lübeck .

course

Waymarking

The path marker is a combination of the abstract representation of the "Golden Bridge" National Park Memorial sculptures German unit and the world peace cross Hermann field , thereby a F represent. This F is white on a blue background.

Distance

Path and part of the museum on the Steinkopf

The path begins at the German Unity Sculpture Park. Via the former border crossing between Eußenhausen and Henneberg , the route goes down the mountain near the former border towards Hermannsfeld with a World Peace Cross next to a former observation tower. From there back, the hiking trail continues on the Thuringian side of the former border to the west. North of Völkershausen , the hiking trail leaves the former border strip and runs north past the former Gut Ruppers . To the west of Stedtlingen , it circles the Neuberg to the south and reaches the Schmerbach desert. From there it runs again on the Thuringian side along the border. Via the Steinkopf with the open-air museum, he changes the Bavarian side at Weimarschmieden and the village is reached.

The path follows from Weimarschmieden on the road to Gerthausen, then branches off to the left to lead in an arc to the NES 31 district road in the direction of Fladungen . Finally, Brüchs is reached. Grazing the place, the path now runs north to the Abtsberg, where an observation post of the US armed forces was located. Again to the south, the hiking trail leads down the mountain to federal highway 285 . The path follows it to the Erlsmühle north of Oberfladungen . From there the path runs past the former Huflar manor on the Salkenberg with a view of home.

Then the path changes back to the Thuringian side and leads to Frankenheim . Crossing the village, the path turns towards the Grabenberg , where there is another former border tower. Finally, the path leads to Birx.

Themed boards

On a total of 40 information boards, hikers can find out about individual fates or the general structure of the border installations and the life of GDR citizens with the border at the location of the event or in its vicinity. The observation of the border by the NATO countries is also dealt with.

Escape and attempted escape from the GDR, settled areas , border violations , border installations, border-related deaths, observation posts of the US Army and the Soviets and places of remembrance are specifically dealt with .

Significant objects along the Friedensweg

In addition to deserted areas, there are several monuments and memorials on the hiking trail that bear witness to the understanding of the time and how it was dealt with.

National Monument Sculpture Park German Unity

Golden Bridge (1996)

The National Monument Sculpture Park German Unity is located near the Eußenhausen / Meiningen border crossing, which has now been largely dismantled . Visual art objects that deal with the former division or the right to freedom are set up there by local artists. The outstanding object is the stylized “Golden Bridge” integrated in the signpost, with one part each on the Thuringian and Bavarian sides. Originally, the artist Jimmy Fell said that unity would only reach people's minds when the bridge fell into disrepair. Nevertheless, he painted the art object in 2018 with a new golden color. He sees it as a symbol of unity that spans the former border.

World Peace Cross Herrmannsfeld

World Peace Cross Hermannsfeld

A GDR border tower is a memorial on the Dachsberg near Hermannsfeld. It is dominated by the Hermannsfeld World Peace Cross , which was erected on the anniversary of German reunification in 1991 on the site of the former St. Wolfgang pilgrimage chapel. In 1996 the cross was moved to the Dachsberg as a sign that the desire for peace is greater than being locked up. The World Peace Cross is a stylized part of the signpost.

Steinkopf open-air museum

In the so-called border section 43, in contrast to many other sections, part of the border installations remained. The former municipality of Helmershausen (today Rhönblick ) received the facilities and renovated them together with the Deutsches Kuratorium e. V. for the purpose of preservation for posterity. They are now archaeological monuments and parts of the complex are used as shelter for animals. The mine facilities, however, were cleared.

Home view

Memorial at Heimatblick

The Heimatblick , actually Rhönkopf , is a mountain in the Long Rhön . It got its name from the fact that refugees from the GDR, especially from the upper Feldatal , were able to look into their old homeland from there. In 1967, a small shelter was built from basalt blocks and a plate was incorporated with the request to signal to those who remained in the GDR that the refugees are connected to their homeland despite their flight.

Natural aspect

As a result of the decades of lack of intensive cultivation, the path runs through natural areas that are biologically significant, as a natural habitat has been able to develop. It partly follows historical convoy routes , partly farm roads near the border or local connecting roads. In the eastern section they are assigned to the eastern Rhön foothills , in the western part of the Lange Rhön and its eastern roof , which means that the rocky subsoil ranges from shell limestone and red sandstone to volcanic rocks such as basalt .

Web links

Commons : Friedensweg  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
  • Friedensweg on the website of the municipality of Rhönblick

literature

  • Association Citizens for Soft Tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001. on the history of the German-German border between the former border crossing Eußenhausen-Meiningen and Birx
  • Karin Kowol: Trace in the landscape . A journey along the Green Belt in Thuringia. Ed .: BUND Thuringia. S. 18th f . ( bund-thueringen.de [PDF; 2.9 MB ; accessed on April 3, 2021]).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c d Citizens' Association for Gentle Tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 5 f .
  2. ↑ a b Gerhard Schätzlein: Plate 7: The history of the border . In: Association of citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 38-42 .
  3. ^ Association of citizens for gentle tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 82 .
  4. ↑ Gerhard Schätzlein: Plate 26: "Abtsberg" base of the US Army monitors the Vorrhön . In: Association of citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 116 ff .
  5. ^ Gerhard Schätzlein: Plate 40: The former Birxer Mühle . In: Association of citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 153 ff .
  6. ↑ Gerhard Schätzlein: Plate 22: Father beats - therefore flee across the border . In: Association of citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 43 ff .
  7. ^ Gerhard Schätzlein: Plate 34: Grenzschicksale . In: Association of citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 138 ff .
  8. ↑ Gerhard Schätzlein: Plate 26: "Abtsberg" base of the US Army monitors the Vorrhön . In: Association of citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 111 f .
  9. ↑ a b Hanns Friedrich: Wandering between the fronts. Main-Post , December 3, 2006, accessed on February 11, 2021 .
  10. ↑ gs: On the Friedensweg along the former border. Main-Post , September 27, 2007, accessed on April 3, 2021 .
  11. ↑ All editions of the hiking guide, listed on Worldcat , accessed on April 3, 2021
  12. ↑ The Path of Peace. Municipality of Rhönblick, accessed on February 11, 2021 .
  13. ^ Border hiking trail in the Hildburghausen district. The green belt. District office Hildburghausen in cooperation with the office for land development and land consolidation Meiningen, accessed on April 3, 2021 .
  14. ↑ The Green Belt experience. Relation to the National Biodiversity Strategy. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation , accessed on February 14, 2021 .
  15. ^ A b c Citizens' Association for Gentle Tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 14 .
  16. ^ Association of citizens for gentle tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 9 ff .
  17. ^ Association of citizens for gentle tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 12th f .
  18. ^ Association of citizens for gentle tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 13th f .
  19. ^ Hanns Friedrich: Fresh color for the Golden Bridge. Main-Post , November 22, 2017, accessed on April 4, 2021 .
  20. ↑ Hanns Friedrich: “Golden Bridge” is entering the digital age. Main-Post , December 3, 2019, accessed on April 4, 2021 .
  21. ^ Gerhard Schätzlein: Plate 8: The World Peace Cross . In: Association of citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 43 ff .
  22. ↑ Sperr-Graben is an archaeological soil monument. Main-Post , December 3, 2006, accessed on February 18, 2021 .
  23. ↑ Gerhard Schätzlein: Plate 28: A family separates from Melpers . In: Association of citizens for soft tourism in Hermannsfeld eV (Ed.): Hiking guide Friedensweg . 2nd expanded edition. Hermannsfeld 2001, p. 126 f .
  24. ↑ Hanns Friedrich: trace in the landscape. A trip along the Green Belt in Thuringia. BUND Thuringia, December 3, 2006, p. 19 , accessed on February 11, 2021 .
  25. ↑ Werner Röll: Geographical Land Survey: The natural space units on sheet 126 Fulda  - Federal Institute for Regional Studies, Bad Godesberg, 1969 → Natural space map (PDF, 4 MB)
  26. ↑ Brigitte Schwenzer: Geographical land survey: The natural space units on sheet 140 Schweinfurt  - Federal Institute for Regional Studies, Bad Godesberg, 1968 → Natural space map (PDF, 4 MB)