German POW World War I Memorial

In the foothills above the city, the Fort Douglas post cemetery holds an unexpected group of graves: German nationals who died on American soil during the First World War. The fort served as an internment camp for German sailors, reservists, and enemy aliens, and many of those who died — a number of them in the 1918 influenza pandemic — were buried here by their captors. This memorial, dedicated in 1933, honors them. It's a striking thing to find in Utah: a monument over the enemy dead, tended with the same care as anyone else's.

What the plaque says

The last resting place of 21 German prisoners of war who died at Fort Douglas during the World War 1917-1918 Stanislaus Lewitski Henry L. Zinnel Frank Stadler Arthur Ruebe Karl G.W. Blaase Erich Laevemann Friedrich O. Hanf Walter J. Piezareck Emil Laschke Georg Schmidt Charles Morth Roko Zilko Felix Behr Maximilian Kampmann Max Leopold Joseph Fuckola Herman Lieder Frank Benes Adolf Wachenhusen Herman German Walter Topff Erected by the German-Americans of the United States of America. and the American Legion of the State of Utah. Unveiled on the 30th of May 1933. Arno A. Steinicke. Sculptor German War Memorial The German War Memorial to the Victims of War was erected by the German-Americans of the United States of America in cooperation with the American Legion of the State of Utah in memory of the men who died while interned at Fort Douglas during World War I. The monument was designed and constructed by Arno Steinecke. It was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1933. Fifty-five years later, in 1988, the monument was restored by sculptor Hans Huettlinger and his son John under arrangements made by the German Air Force and German War Graves Commission. Today the restored monument stands in of the victims of both World Wars who are buried here in Fort Douglas Cemetery and to the victims of war and despotism throughout the world. Das Deutsche Ehrenmal der Kriegstoten wurde von den Deutsch-Amerikanern in Zusammenarbeit mit der American Legion of the State of Utah zum Gedenken an die als Internierte und Kriegsgefangene des I. Weltkrieges in Fort Douglas verstorbenen Deutschen errichtet. Künstlerischer Entwurt und Ausführung der Arbeiten erfolgten durch Arno A. Steinecke. Das Ehrenmal wurde am Memorial Day, den 30. Mai 1933 eigeweiht. Nach 55 Jahren wurde das Ehrenmal 1988 auf Initiative der Deutschen Luftwaffe im Zusammenwirken mit dem Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. durch den Bildhauer Hans Hüttlinger und seinen Sohn John aus Salt Lake City restauriert. Das Ehrenmal dient nun dem Gedenken der Opfer der beiden Weltkriege, die hier in Fort Douglas ruhen sowie darüber hinaus allen Opfern von Kriegen und Gewaltherrschaft in der Welt.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Natural History Museum of Utah — 0.2 mi
  A world-class museum built into the foothills above Salt Lake City
• Red Butte Garden — 0.5 mi
  A 100-acre botanical garden with panoramic valley views
• This Is The Place Heritage Park — 0.8 mi
  A living history village at the mouth of Emigration Canyon
• Emigration Canyon — 2.3 mi
  The final stretch of trail the Mormon pioneers took into the valley

More markers nearby

• Patrick Edward Connor — steps away
• Bear River Massacre Memorial — steps away
• Original Cemetery Gate — steps away
• Fort Douglas Cemetery — steps away