Generals, Governors and a Dragon

The cemetery was established in 1748. Around 150 years later, around 1900, numerous figures from the colonial era were buried here. After the Berlin Wall was built, a large part of the site fell victim to the border fortifications. Over the past three decades, many gravestones have been reconstructed or newly created; a friends’ association is dedicated to maintaining the site.

Among them are five graves commemorating a diverse range of colonial military figures and governors. The tour follows their stories, explores the often brutal consequences of their actions and poses the question that arises in such places today: what might a critical examination look like? This will be discussed together along the way.

The tour is led by Stefan Zollhauser. He is a historian and exhibition curator who specialises in Berlin’s urban history, with a particular focus on themes relating to everyday life.

Through his project ‘Berliner Spurensuche’ and in collaboration with various district museums, he develops guided tours, workshops and exhibitions. In doing so, he examines colonial interconnections and demonstrates how they manifest themselves in the urban landscape.