Meinerzhagen – The former cemetery on Hochstraße is where the soldiers who died in World War I and World War II are commemorated. Swastikas and stars of David were carved into a memorial stone.
These are symbols that are apparently intended to evoke the worst memories of National Socialism: the swastika, which serves as an expression of nationalism and antisemitism, and the Star of David, also known as the “Jewish Star” by the National Socialists and used as a compulsory symbol for Jews to stigmatize. Every now and then these symbols appear as graffiti on facades, electrical boxes or other public areas. In this case, the two symbols were carved into a memorial stone at the memorial on Hochstrasse.
The former cemetery on Hochstraße was created after the old churchyard at Jesus Christ Church was closed and was only occupied for a comparatively short time until the new cemetery on Heerstraße was opened around 1890. The war memorial for those who died in World War I, the memorial column for those who died in the German war from 1864 to 1866 and some remaining gravestones are located on the site.
