Altenau, Ev.- luth. Gemeindefriedhof

According to the information available to us, a total of 86 dead from both world wars and the National Socialist tyranny rest in 2 cemeteries at this cemetery. In detail: War graves of - 3 German soldiers and 6 civilian service personnel from the First World War listed in the burial list - 52 soldiers from various branches of the army, air force, Waffen-SS and Volkssturm, most of whom fell during the heavy fighting in the Oberharz between Altenau and St. Andreasberg from April 12 - 14, 1945. Three of them remain unknown - 10 civilian victims of an Allied air raid on Altenau on 29 March 1945 - women and children. The simple but well-kept gravesite with large name plates and a few individual grave cushions can be found directly to the left of the entrance. Row graves for 8 known and 7 unknown Soviet prisoners of war. There is no precise information about their fate. The dates of death in the list of graves indicate October 1941 for 8 of them. They must therefore have died shortly after their arrival in Altenau. For the others - all unknown - the date of death is given as April 12, 1945. They could therefore have lost their lives in the battles for Altenau. The gravesite on the right-hand side of the cemetery makes a very neglected and loveless impression, which in no way does justice to the dignity of those resting here. Photos: Volker Fleig 2013