Riga Martyr's Stone
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The Riga Martyrs Stone , inaugurated on May 22, 1920, destroyed after the Second World War , inaugurated again in 2006, also known as the memorial stone “For our martyrs” , is a memorial on the Great Cemetery in Riga .
occasion
The Riga Martyrs Stone was erected in memory of the so-called Baltic martyrs ; What was meant in this case was a number of Protestant clergymen who were killed during the Bolshevik occupation of the Baltic States in the Latvian War of Independence and the Estonian War of Independence in 1918 and 1919.
inauguration
The Riga Martyr's Stone was consecrated by the parishes next to the New Chapel in the Great Cemetery in Riga on May 22, 1920, the first anniversary of the conquest of Riga by the Baltic State Armed Forces. Since the future of the Baltic Germans in independent Latvia was unclear after there had also been fighting between them and the Latvians in 1919 , it was not a jubilee celebration; the organizers tried to portray the Baltic Germans as victims, not as liberators. Accordingly, only civilian victims were remembered, and among them only clergymen. The commemoration was limited to the victims of the Bolsheviks, as a peaceful coexistence with the Latvians was sought. Baltic Germans and Latvians were portrayed as common victims of Bolshevism so that the event could not appear as a provocation to the Latvian state.
The theme of the inauguration ceremony was "Martyrs". Reading texts were Rev 6,9–11 LUT , Rev 16,4–7 LUT , Rev 19,6–9 LUT , Rev 21,1–7 LUT and Rev 22,16.17.20 LUT . The sermon text was Acts 1,8 LUT . This represented the pastors listed as martyrs for the word of God. An ulterior motive may have been that the German-Baltic population as a whole should be placed in a similar light, looking back on their role in proselytizing the Baltic states. The selection of biblical quotations suggests that this should be presented as God's will. The celebration was supposed to serve as consolation for a population group that saw itself at risk. The collection was intended for the victims' orphans .
Design and inscription
Original design
Right from the start, the Riga Martyr's Stone was not labeled with any anti-Latvian statements. However, the suffering of the Baltic Germans was originally deliberately placed in the foreground over that of the Latvians, as the parishes involved were dominated by Baltic Germans at the time; almost all of the people listed on the front of the stone belonged to the German-speaking population group, there were only seven members of the Latvian ethnic group.
The stone is an approximately 2.20 m high obelisk made of black granite. In the upper part of the front are the names of the eight pastors who were murdered in the Riga Central Prison during the Battle of Riga on May 22, 1919 by the retreating Red Army soldiers . (See the article about Marion von Klot , who was also murdered in the process.) In the lower area are the names of 32 other spiritual victims of the Bolshevik occupation. The inscription reads:
"Heb. 13.7 Remember your teachers: Pastors Bergengruen, Doebler, Eckhardt, Hoffmann, Savary, Scheuermann, Taube, E. Treu, who died as a witness in Riga on May 22nd, 1919. Besides these, the pastors Adolphi, Berg, Bernewitz, Bielenstein, Bosse, Gilbert, Grüner, Prof. Hahn, Haßmann, Hesse, Jende, Marnitz, Moltrecht, died as martyrs in the Baltic countries during the time of the Bolshevik reign of terror and the persecution of Christians in 1918/1919, Paucker, Rutkowski, Scheinpflug, Schlau, Schwartz, Strautmann, P. Treu, Tschischko, Uhder, Wühner, Wachtsmuth. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Pastors Bidder, Cleemann, Frese, Geist, Gross, Kaspar, Rosenberg and Walter died as Confessors . He who endures to the end will be saved. Matth. 24.13 "
For the biblical quotations see Heb 13,7 LUT and Mt 24,13 LUT .
Changes in rebuilding
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The stone, which was rebuilt in 2006, does not completely correspond to the original in terms of shape, typeface and decorations; there was a significant modernization. The horizontal top was replaced with a triangular tapered one, while the original stone had a triangular edge at the top with a few flourishes above that filled the area up to the top. Four star-shaped decorations at the corners of the upper writing field of the original stone have been omitted. The division into two writing fields separated by an edge for the martyrs and the confessors has also been abandoned, the entire text on the front is now on a single surface. The wording of the front was copied, while the original stone was written in a hard-to-read handwriting. The only textual change on the front is the interchanging of the upper Bible verse with the corresponding passage; the job details are now in smaller font.
While the front is still labeled in German according to the original and lists mostly Baltic Germans, the back is now labeled in Latvian, initially with the Bible verse "Pieminiet savus vadītājus, kas jums Dieva vārdu runājuši" (translated: "In memory of your teachers, who told you the word of God) ”and the passage“ Ebr 13.7 ”(Hebr 13.7), the quote has been expanded compared to the German-language front. An introductory sentence is followed by the names of the seven Latvians among the pastors listed on the front, this time in Latvian spelling with their first names, namely first the martyrs:
- Ludvigs Čiško (Ludwig Tschischko in German spelling)
- Adam's Jende (Adam Jende)
- Kristaps Strautmanis (Christoph Strautmann)
- Edgars Hasmanis (Edgar Haßmann)
- Konstantīns Ūders (Konstantin Uhder)
And, after a transition, the names of the Latvians among the confessors:
- Vilhelms Kaspars (Wilhelm Kaspar in German spelling)
- Pēteris Rozenbergs (Peter Rosenberg)
This is followed by another Bible verse: "Esi uzticīgs līdz nāvei, tad es tev došu dzīvības vainagu" (translated: "Be faithful until death, I will give you the crown of life") with the passage "Jn Atkl 2,10 “( Rev 2,10 LUT ). The verse was exchanged for the German-language front. At the bottom on the right-hand side follows “Renovatum Domus Rigensis 2006”, because the rebuilding was carried out by Domus Rigensis .
The structure of the back corresponds to the front, but now creates a balance to the German-Baltic dominance on the front, which was taken over from the original stone, through the language and choice of names.
Further use
Even in the years following its first inauguration, the Riga Martyrs' Stone was an important place of remembrance for the victims of the Bolshevik occupation. However, the fallen soldiers of the Landeswehr were also remembered. An example is the third anniversary of the conquest of Riga, May 22, 1922. The German-Baltic shops and offices remained closed. The relatives of the victims went to the cemeteries. At Märtyrerstein a meeting of former parishioners and friends of the listed pastors took place, which was opened by the German-Baltic Bishop Poelchau; The sermon text was Rev 21,3 LUT . The martyr's stone was now only a sideline to the remembrance of the military victims taking place elsewhere, sermons continued to take place here; the church only played a minor role in the commemoration of May 22, 1919.
Destruction and rebuilding
After the Second World War, the Riga Martyr's Stone was destroyed by the Soviet administration. In the course of efforts to restore the Great Cemetery, the Märtyrerstein could also be replaced in 2006 through the initiative of Dr. Gerhard Mietens and the help of Domus Rigensis and the Association for the Promotion of Baltic Architectural Monuments will be inaugurated. On the back, the names of the seven Latvian pastors are now repeated in Latvian with their first names, while the front corresponds to the German-language original.
Biographical data of the pastors listed
The order in the table corresponds to that on the front of the Riga Martyr's Stone. The names of the Latvian clergymen repeated on the reverse are in italics . The Latvian name variants are given in brackets. The dates follow the Julian calendar.
| Surname | Date of birth | Ordination date | Parish (1914) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hermann Bergengruen (Hermanis Bergengrūens) | 06/08/1872 | 02/17/1902 | Wenden, German municipality ( Cēsis ) |
| Erhard Doebler (Erhards Deblers) | 08/04/1882 | 02/05/1912 | Riga, parish of the deaconess house |
| August Eckhardt | 04/20/1868 | 12/13/1892 | Riga, Dom |
| Theodor Hoffmann (Teodors Hofmanis) | 02/01/1865 | 11/15/1892 | Riga, St. Petri |
| Eberhard Savary (Eberhards Savarijs / Zāvari / Safari) | 04/12/1863 | 03/13/1888 | Ash damage ( Aizkraukle ) |
| Eugen Scheuermann (Eižens Šeuermans / Šeiermanis) | 09/12/1856 | 05/29/1883 | Riga, Thorensberg ( Torņakalns ), Luther Congregation |
| Theodor Taube (Teodors Taube) | 02/01/1864 | 05/01/1888 | Riga, Martins parish, German part |
| Ernst Fromhold-Treu (Ernsts Fromholds-Treijs) | 02/03/1861 | 11/29/1885 | Riga, Strasdenhof ( Strazdumuiža ), asylum for the blind, director |
| Heinrich Leonhard Adolphi (Heinrihs Leonhards Ādolfijs) | 10/09/1852 | 12/30/1879 | Adsel ( Gaujiena mahz. M.) |
| Eugen Berg (Eižens Bergs) | 08/24/1855 | 09/08/1885 | Palzmar-Serbigal ( Palsmane mahz. M.) |
| Alexander Bernewitz (Aleksand (e) rs Bernevics) | 03/31/1863 | 08/14/1888 | Kandau ( Kandava ) |
| Hans Bielenstein (Ansis Bīlenšteins) | 02/13/1863 | 05/14/1888 | Old and new Rahden ( Vecsaule and Jaunsaule ) |
| Heinrich Bosse (Heinrihs Bose) | 09/06/1871 | 04/26/1898 | Welfare ( Ēvele mahz. M.) |
| Wilhelm Gilbert (Vilhelms Gilberts) | 12/24/1868 | 11/07/1899 | Siuxt ( Džūkste -m.) |
| Wilhelm Grüner (Vilhelms Grīners) | 09/01/1891 | ? | 1919: Ronneburg ( Rauna ) |
| Traugott Hahn (Traugots Hāns) | 02/01/1875 | May 16, 1899 | Jurjeff, University Parish ( Tartu Ülikooli kogudus) |
| Edgar Haßmann (Edgars Hasmanis) | 01/31/1884 | 1914 | Fellin ( Viljandi ), adjunct of Jaan Lattik |
| Carl Immanuel Philipp Hesse | 09/13/1875 | 05/30/1904 | Jewe ( Jõhvi kih.) |
| Adam Jende (Ādams Jende) | 10/06/1861 | 08/01/1893 | Ronnenburg ( Rauna mahz. M.) |
| Xaver Marnitz (Ksavers Marnics) | 08/09/1855 | 02/20/1883 | Uexküll-Kircholm ( Ikšķile and Salaspils ) |
| Karl Moltrecht (Kārlis Moltdrehs) | 05/12/1860 | 01/26/1887 | Dondangen ( Dundaga ) |
| Walther Paucker | 07.03.1878 | 04/01/1907 | Wesenberg ( Rakvere kih.) |
| Arnold von Rutkowski (Arnolds (fon) Rutkovskis) | 02/28/1865 | ? | 1901: Hofzumberge ( Tērvete ) |
| Theodor Scheinpflug (Teodors Augusts Šeinpflugs) | 05/06/1862 | 11/19/1889 | Pernigel ( Liepupe mahz. M.) |
| Karl Schlau (Karls Šlaus / Kārlis Šlavs) | 02/10/1851 | 02/05/1878 | Salis ( Salacgrīva mahz. M.) |
| Moritz Wilhelm Paul Schwartz | 04/11/1864 | 03/12/1889 | Jurjeff, St. Johannis ( Tartu Jaani kogudus), pastor-deacon |
| Christoph Strautmann (Kristaps Strautmanis) | 11/11/1860 | 05/05/1896 | Bauske ( Bauska ), Latvian municipality |
| Paul Fromhold-Treu (Pauls Fromholds-Treijs) | 05/22/1854 | 08/16/1881 | Riga, St. Trinity Parish |
| Ludwig Johannes Tschischko (Ludvigs Jānis Čiško) | 06/18/1858 | 01/10/1893 | St. Matthiä ( Matīši mahz. M.) |
| Konstantin Uhder (Konstantīns Ūders / Ūdris) | 02/19/1870 | 04/20/1903 | Aahof ( Lejasmuiža mahz. M.) |
| Richard Alexander Georg Wühner | 09/16/1872 | 09/28/1897 | Walk , Estonian St. Petri Congregation |
| Paul Wachtsmuth (Pauls Vah (t) smuts) | 05/15/1879 | 11/09/1903 | Mitau ( Jelgava ), St. Johannis, German municipality |
| Oskar Bidder (Oskars Bidders) | 03/27/1866 | 11/20/1894 | Riga, St. Jakobi, prison community |
| Gustav Cleemann (Gustavs Bernhards Kristians Klēmanis) | 16.09.1858 | 11/17/1885 | Riga, Jesus Congregation |
| Eduard Paul Benedict Frese | 11/19/1871 | 13.09.1898 | Waiwara ( Vaivara kih.) |
| Alfred Geist | 12/10/1863 | 11/27/1887 | Riga, Evangelical Reformed Congregation |
| Erwin Gross (Ervins Johans Gross) | 09/24/1870 | 09/24/1895 | Roop ( Straupe ) |
| Wilhelm Kaspar (Vilhelms Kaspars) | 03/01/1853 | 12/23/1881 | Schujen-Lodenhof ( Skujenes -Lodes mahz. M.) |
| Peter Rosenberg (Pēteris Rozenbergs) | 06/28/1874 | December 3rd, 1901 | Riga, Martins parish, Latvian part |
| Arthur Walter (Artūrs Hugo Valters) | 09/20/1860 | March 31, 1885 | Riga, New St. Gertrud |
Eberhard Savary
Hans Bielenstein
Traugott rooster
Carl Immanuel P. Hesse
Adam Jende
Karl Moltrecht
Walther Paucker
Karl Schlau
Konstantin Uhder
Paul Wachtsmuth
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Web links
- Dr. Gerhard Mietens: The Rigaer Märtyrerstein (with illustration): DBGG-Genealogen-Echo No. 2, Bulletin July 2006, p. 12f in: Deutsch-Baltische Genealogische Gesellschaft e. V.
- Memorial plaques and monuments on the Domus Rigensis website
- Portrait photos of listed people
- Portrait photos of listed people
- Portrait photos of listed people
- Portrait photos of listed people
literature
- Bernhard Böttcher: A favor for the people and homeland. War memorials of German minorities in East Central Europe during the interwar period . Böhlau, Cologne 2009, ISBN 978-3-412-20313-9 . In it, the chapter German Baltic Dreading the Dead of the Civil War , pp. 98-105, especially pp. 100-101.
- Jānis Juškēvičs: Vecā Rīga . Rīga 1936, pp. 30–35. *
- Thomas Ehlert: Traugott Hahn (1875-1919) - Life, Work, Martyrdom, Spirituality and Theology (FAU Studies from the Philosophical Faculty, Volume 10), Erlangen 2018. v, 501 pages, ISBN 978-3-96147-119-5 ; Access to the full text via OPUS FAU: http://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/frontdoor/index/index/docId/9992
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia. 1914. ( Memento of October 11, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Karlis Beldavs: Macitaji, kas nature gaja , Luterisma mantojuma fund, Riga 2010 ( Memento of 4 March 2016 Internet Archive ), ISBN 978-9984-753-56-0
Coordinates: 56 ° 58 ′ 15.6 ″ N , 24 ° 8 ′ 39.6 ″ E