Südfriedhof (Wiesbaden)

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Plan of the Wiesbaden South Cemetery

The Südfriedhof at Siegfriedring 25 is the largest cemetery in Wiesbaden with 330,700 square meters .

Location and history

The south cemetery was built in 1908/1909 as the second main municipal cemetery after the north cemetery . It is located in the Wiesbaden district southeast , north of the Dyckerhoffbruch quarry . The planning was in the hands of horticultural inspector Heinrich Zeininger and also included the construction of a crematorium , which was carried out as an integral part of a symmetrical group of buildings at the cemetery entrance based on a design by town planning inspector August O. Pauly . The cremation facility was one of the first in Prussia to go into operation in 1912 and was used until 1997.

There is a British military cemetery on the site. A plaque at the entrance bears the inscription British Military Cemetery 1926-1929 .

Südfriedhof Wiesbaden - main building with old crematorium

Many Soviet prisoners of war were forced to work in Wiesbaden during the Second World War , some were murdered or died during bombing work. Most are buried in the south cemetery.

Design of the site

The cemetery complex with an almost trapezoidal grave field and the connected group of buildings opens up in the entrance area as a baroque garden. Lined with columnar trees of life , a wide strip of green opens up with a field of honor.

Another characteristic of the Südfriedhof is a ring path, which is interrupted by six roundabouts marking the large crossroads . The south cemetery combines a large number of historical tombs. Particularly representative burial sites are located along the Ringweg, on the roundabouts and on the main axis.

Of particular importance is the grave of Manfred von Richthofen , called "The Red Baron", born in 1892. He was a fighter pilot officer and died on April 21, 1918 in an aerial battle on the Western Front. He was reburied here in 1975 . The grave is in Westhain, number 77.

Typical view of the Südfriedhof Wiesbaden
Südfriedhof Wiesbaden - old crematorium - exterior view

Crematoria

The crematorium in the main building of the south cemetery was used from 1912 to 1997. Today there is a modern facility for cremations on the northern edge of the south cemetery.

Sponsorships

The city administration offers the possibility to sponsor old grave sites. The sponsor's right to find a place in the grave himself is linked to the assumption of costs for the maintenance of the tombs.

Graves

Transport links

  • With Stadtwerke bus line 16, stop: Südfriedhof

Coordinates: 50 ° 3 ′ 37.4 ″  N , 8 ° 16 ′ 5 ″  E