Vorarlberg graves

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The cross of the Vorarlberg graves
Inscription below the cross

The Vorarlberg graves , which are located in the southwest of Kempten (Allgäu) near the city limits in the so-called Schwanderholz, commemorate the fallen and buried Vorarlberg residents who lost their lives in 1809 fighting against Bavarian troops. They rose up because of the annexation of the Austrian part of the country to the Bavarian Illerkreis as part of the Vorarlberg popular uprising in 1809 and attacked the capital Kempten (Allgäu) in vain. Their goal was to free themselves from the rule of the Kingdom of Bavaria , to which they belonged for a few years after the Peace of Pressburg. The Vorarlberg graves are located in this part of the forest in the south, because this is where the greatest losses occurred. Nearby is the Austrian memorial , which is related to the First World War .

history

One of the other graves with an inscription

Caused by the Peace of Pressburg , the Electorate of Bavaria with Tyrol and Vorarlberg had an enormous increase in area in 1805. In 1806 Bavaria even rose to become a kingdom as an ally of Napoleon . The harsh and sometimes unjust treatment of the population displeased them in the former area of ​​the Habsburg monarchy . The aversion to the new masters increased so that in May 1809 Tyrol rose up in an uprising, which the Vorarlberg population also joined after a newly convened state parliament on May 9, 1809.

In May 1809, 2,500 men, mostly from the Bregenzerwald , approached the Illerkreis capital, Kempten, in order to pillage it . But they had to give up their plan because French, Bavarian and Württemberg troops occupied Kempten.

In June 1809 the Vorarlbergers marched again around Kempten, a line was formed from the Eich , over the Trinity to the Mariaberg . On June 19, 1809 there was a fight in which the Vorarlbergers were defeated. They then withdrew to the nearby Immenstadt in the Allgäu .

A few weeks later, on July 17, 1809, new battles broke out on the previous line, which ended with a complete defeat on the Vorarlberg side. According to Alfred Weitnauer , who is known for his exaggerations, 20,000 people from Vorarlberg allegedly arrived in July, a very high number with a view to the area of ​​today's state of Vorarlberg, where around 1809 around 100,000 people lived. According to other sources, only 1,800 men were involved in the attack. Allegedly they were poorly equipped and inexperienced in handling weapons. Another attack was attempted on July 22nd, which ended with heavy losses on the Vorarlberg side.

There were also repeated attacks by Vorarlbergers on cities such as Lindau in Lake Constance , Lindenberg in Allgäu , Weiler and Wangen in Allgäu . Vorarlberg has been part of Austria again since 1814.

description

At the western edge of a meadow originally stood a stone cross erected on a small hill. The inscription "Vorarlberger Grab 1809" was on the crossbar of the cross . In the meantime, the cross has been replaced by one made of solid wood. Below the cross, on the burial mound, a stone slab was originally attached with the inscription: "In memory of the Vorarlbergers who fell in this forest in 1809 and fought for their homeland against the French and Bavaria" . This has now also been replaced and bears the inscription: " Vorarlbergs lie here. July 17, 1809 in the fight for their freedom against the French and Bavaria ” .

Three other graves on the southern edge bear the inscription “Vorarlberger Gräber” .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Martin Kellenberger: City of Kempten. Book of memory. Kempten 1937, p. 137.
  2. ^ Alfred Weitnauer: Allgäuer Chronik. Verlag für Heimatpflege, Kempten 1972, Volume 3, p. 244.
  3. ↑ Meinrad Tiefenthaler: Vorarlberg 1809: French Wars, uprising against Bavaria. In: Vorarlberg 1809 (local history lesson picture series) p. 6. ( PDF ; 0.5 MB)
  4. ^ Hermann Stoller: The uprising year 1809 in the Westallgäu, especially in Lindenberg. P. 14. In: Westallgäuer Heimatblätter Oct./Nov. 1996 ( PDF ; 0.5 MB)

literature

  • Martin Kellenberger: City of Kempten. Book of memory. Kempten 1937, p. 137.
  • Alfred Weitnauer: Allgäu Chronicle. Verlag für Heimatpflege, Kempten 1972, Volume 3, p. 232ff.
  • Jochen König: Committed to history: The Vorarlberg graves in Kempten. Austrian Association in Kempten (publisher), 1995.

Web links

Commons : Vorarlberger Gräber  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 47 ° 42 ′ 3.6 ″  N , 10 ° 17 ′ 40.2 ″  E