Obermarchtal military cemetery
The Obermarchtal military cemetery is located in the municipality of Obermarchtal in the Alb-Donau district about 15 kilometers southwest of Ehingen . It is located directly on the south-eastern edge of the forest in the Untermarchtal district in the Holzreute XVIII forest area on the communal connection path between Obermarchtal and Luppenhofen . Him leading main trail 5 of the Swabian Alp Association over. It is also signposted with brown signposts when coming from Obermarchtal and Untermarchtal, making it easy to reach by car, bike and on foot. A parking lot for hikers is right next door.
Beginnings and historical background
The beginnings of the historic Obermarchtal military cemetery have only been passed down orally. They are said to go back far into the centuries. It was once called the “Stranger's Cemetery”. It is reported that anyone who died as a traveler, pilgrim, craftsman or beggar near Obermarchtal was buried in the stranger's cemetery. A particularly large number of soldiers who moved along the important military route along the Danube from the west over the centuries are said to be buried here.
There were numerous acts of war that took place in the Upper Swabian region itself and in the area between Sigmaringen and Ulm in the last few centuries . In the armed conflicts in the wake of the French Revolution and in the wars that Napoleon waged against almost all of Europe until his exile on the island of St. Helena , the cemetery of the foreigners is mentioned for the first time.
18th century
Since 1790 soldiers must have been billeted in Obermarchtal again and again, and individual buildings must have been used as military hospitals. All reports agree that from 1813/14 the deceased military personnel were buried in the stranger's cemetery. Since then it has been referred to in the sources as a soldier's church or military cemetery.
First and Second World War
The premises of the former Premonstratensian monastery and later Marchtal Castle were also used as a military hospital and military hospital during the First and Second World Wars. Both wars left their graves in the military cemetery. The war graves list of the Obermarchtal mayor's office names 20 soldiers from the Second World War who found their final resting place in the military cemetery.
The last funeral took place with the Wehrmacht dean a. D. Franz Borgias Schmid, in 1972.
French occupation
During the French occupation, the military government in Ehingen researched evidence and traces that the French nation had left in the Ehingen district in the course of history .
In addition to evidence of the stay of the Austrian Archduchess Marie-Antoinette in Obermarchtal, where Maria Theresa's daughter, who was not yet fifteen, stayed on May 1, 1770 on the way to her wedding to Versailles , the Obermarchtal military cemetery is also listed as the final resting place of numerous French people. Since then, a tomb erected by the French military government commemorates the French soldiers resting here in the cemetery.
present
Since then, French military delegations have regularly visited the Obermarchtal military cemetery to commemorate their fallen and deceased compatriots. Most recently, in September 1993, a ceremony was held for French veterans of the Marechal Ledere division together with soldiers from the German Armed Forces to commemorate the victims of all wars.
In 1954/1955 the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge had the cemetery redesigned while preserving the historical character. The former single graves with crosses made of oak were replaced by four grave fields with low natural stone crosses made of Gauing travertine . As far as the names of the dead were known, they were carved into the cross. Two sentry boxes were set up to the left and right of the entrance to the cemetery. The historic military cemetery has become a worthy place of honor for the fallen, which has been looked after for many years by the age department of the Obermarchtal volunteer fire department.
In advance, the Volksbund erected a pillar. It is crowned by a sculpture depicting the phoenix, the miracle bird who, as death approaches, builds an eyrie of fragrant woods, burns itself in it and rises from the ashes rejuvenated. Phoenix is the symbol of immortality and the constant renewal of peoples.
Inscriptions
The following inscriptions are stamped on the column:
"Same lot - same grave"
“1000 soldiers from European peoples from wars of two centuries rest here. Most died in the Obermarchtal hospital in 1814/15. In the two world wars 27 German casualties were added. The Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge created this place of honor for you. "
On the front of the monument pillar is the motto pointing to the future:
"A NEW EUROPE IN DIGNITY AND FREEDOM WILL GROW OUT OF YOUR BURIAL FAMILY"
The inscription on the French memorial stone is translated into German:
“Soldiers from all parts of Europe rest here united in peace and death.
Levevre Jean Louis from French Verviers Aisne died after being wounded in Obermarchtal on May 22nd, 1800.
Private Franz franz. Officer died on December 15, 1793.
Tronch Josef Reiter in the large French army, 2nd reg. Fatally wounded in battle in Obermarchtal on August 11, 1806
and other unknown French
erected by the 96th Battalion du Genie 5 of the French Army on February 20, 1946. "
Same lot - same grave
Memorial stone of the French military administration
Memorial column "Phoenix from the Ashes"
Web links
- Report from Südwestpresse, accessed December 17, 2011
- The Obermarchtal military cemetery at the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e. V., accessed June 26, 2012
Coordinates: 48 ° 13 ′ 25.4 " N , 9 ° 35 ′ 43.1" E