THE GRAVES OF JÁCHYMOV
Changes Over the Centuries
The cemetery was founded as a Catholic burial ground in 1530. During the sixteenth century it was used by Protestants and later re-consecrated as Catholic during the Counter-Reformation. These shifts were accompanied by the destruction of the graves of “heretics.” The grave of the preacher Johann Mathesius was destroyed during re-Catholicisation. According to tradition, his remains were thrown into Mlýnské Valley, although other sources place the destroyed grave inside the Church of St Joachim. Further large-scale destruction occurred after the expulsion of the German population after 1945. Nevertheless, several notable graves have survived.
Old and New Sections
The selected graves are located in both parts of the cemetery. Several are preserved in the rear section, originally the Protestant and children’s area, which is today in poorer condition despite once being shaded by a chestnut avenue.
War Graves and Cenotaphs
Michal Kostrej (10 August 1921 – 17 August 1976) was a veteran of the Second World War. He served as a private and was drafted on 24 April 1945 in Sobrance, Slovakia.
Ernst Kraus (died 1 May 1920 at the age of 28) was a veteran of the First World War. His gravestone reads Lehrer u. Obltn. i. R. (teacher and first lieutenant in the reserve). He was the son of master painter Anton Kraus.
Herman Löser (7 April 1908 – 27 January 1940) fell with the rank of Oberkraftfahrer (senior driver, a non-commissioned rank). He died in Niedermarsberg and was transported to Jáchymov for burial.
Emil Horler (24 May 1889 – 5 October 1961) was a veteran of the First World War. His gravestone bears the inscription Inft., TitGefr., IR. Nr. 92, 6. Komp. (infantryman, honorary lance corporal, Infantry Regiment No. 92, 6th Company). He was wounded on 11 July 1916.
Wenzel Zimmermann (22 November 1896 – 28 July 1966) was a veteran of the Second World War with the rank of corporal. He was drafted on 18 November 1941 in Great Britain.
Karl Pschorn (18 January 1897 – 17 September 1917) is commemorated by a cenotaph, a symbolic grave. He was a reserve lieutenant, Infantry Regiment No. 42, attached to Infantry Regiment No. 79. He was killed in Ljubljana.
Anton Klinger (21 February 1893 – 17 February 1915) also has a cenotaph. His gravestone reads Inft., k. k. LIR. Nr. 10, 2. ErsKomp. (infantryman, Imperial and Royal Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 10, 2nd Replacement Company). He was killed at the Battle of Gorlice in Galicia (today Poland) and is buried in a military cemetery there.
Franz Weis (13 October 1909 – 28 July 1941) was a non-commissioned officer of the Wehrmacht. He is commemorated by a cenotaph. He was killed near Labushne in the Donetsk region of Ukraine and is buried in Plopi, Moldova.
Notable Citizens
Karl Schuldes (4 November 1869 – 4 March 1937) was a tax official and commander of the Veterans’ Association.
Max Sauerstein (March 1901 – 25 September 1947) owned a glove factory that once stood opposite today’s apartment blocks.
Franz Kuhlmann (10 September 1836 – 11 December 1920) was co-owner of a glove factory near St John’s Chapel and served as mayor of the town. His namesake Franz Kuhlmann (16 September 1875 – 29 January 1926) was also co-owner of the same factory.
Anton Müller was the third chairman of the Ore Mountains Association.
Adolf Langhans (20 February 1848 – 12 October 1922) served as mayor, second chairman of the Ore Mountains Association and a mining physician.
Ottokar Holly (1875 – 1933) was a painter.
Rudolf Harzer (1890 – 1934) was a merchant.
Gregor Lindner (29 September 1831 – 9 April 1917) was a papal chamberlain, priest, dean of Jáchymov, town chronicler and member of the municipal council.
Josef Stuchly (died 19 September 1918) worked as a controller at the State Tobacco Factory. Adalbert Rauscher (died 2 December 1928) was a school director.
The Rehn Family
Emilie Rehn (19 April 1882 – 14 October 1925) is buried in the originally intended family tomb of the builder Franz Rehn. Due to the expulsion, only his first wife rests there.
Karl Victor Ritter von Hansgirg (1823 – 23 January 1877) was a poet, district governor and signatory of the 1848 declaration of Czech and German writers.
The cemetery of Jáchymov thus remains not only a place of rest, but a silent testimony to the history of the town and the lives of those who shaped it.
