The Düsseldorf Gerresheim Stele serves as a chilling testament to the atrocities committed by the imperial armed forces, known as the "Kaiser's army."
In a solemn ceremony, Düsseldorf, a city with a rich historical past, commemorated the victims of the "Heeresstreife Kaiser" unit during an event held on Benderstraße 80. The district mayor, Maria Icking, and the mayor, Klaudia Zepuntke, were present at the unveiling.
The "Heeresstreife Kaiser" was a special unit formed under the leadership of former Captain August Kaiser and Sergeant Adolf Stender during World War II. The unit was tasked with searching for alleged "deserters" and their helpers in Düsseldorf, labeling them as "traitors to the people."
Unfortunately, the unit's activities were not confined to military protocol. The people arrested by the unit were interrogated and severely mistreated at Benderstraße 80. Else Gores, a Düsseldorf resident, was one of the victims. She was arrested on April 11, 1945, for providing shelter to an alleged "deserter." Else survived a shot meant to kill her in the Eller Forest, but later, she was picked up again by the "Heeresstreife Kaiser" and presumably murdered.
August Kaiser and Adolf Stender were put on trial in 1947. August Kaiser received a 10-year prison sentence in the initial verdict, while Adolf Stender was sentenced to death. However, both were later released due to numerous appeals, the abolition of the death penalty in 1949, and pardons.
The unveiling of the new stele for the victims of the "Heeresstreife Kaiser" is part of the commemorative event series "Düsseldorf Remembers - 80 Years of Liberation and War's End." The Düsseldorf History Festival, part of this series, takes place on May 9 and 10, 20XX.
As a significant Prussian and later German city, Düsseldorf hosted various military formations, especially during the buildup before WWI. Units such as the Heeresstreife Kaiser would have contributed to maintaining order and readiness. However, the remembrance of such units ties into a broader reflection on Germany’s imperial past and military traditions.
Düsseldorf commemorates its military history through annual remembrance ceremonies, especially on Volkstrauertag (People’s Mourning Day), which honours victims of war and tyranny, including soldiers and civilians from various conflicts. The city's war memorials and military museums may include references or exhibitions about units like the Heeresstreife Kaiser, focusing on their roles and experiences.
Groups and societies in Düsseldorf may organize events, lectures, or reenactments to commemorate the city’s military history, including the era when the Heeresstreife Kaiser was active. These serve to educate the public and honour historical military service. Schools and city cultural institutions often engage in programs to teach about Düsseldorf's wartime history and the various military units connected to the city, embedding remembrance in local identity.
If you are seeking very specific or detailed archival information about the Heeresstreife Kaiser unit, Düsseldorf’s local archives, military museums, or historical societies would be recommended sources for deeper research. A stumbling stone for the Gerresheim resident, Josef Funk, who was arrested and shot by the unit, and a memorial site for Else Gores in the Eller Forest serve as physical reminders of the unit's existence and its victims.
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