Mausbacher Pestkreuz

At the Thirty Pieces of Silver

On July 9, 2003 Pastor Norbert Bolz blessed the new pest cross in a small ceremony. It is considered the only cross of its kind in Stolberg.

The current cross replaces an older cross from 1929, made by carpenter Franz Johag, which had to be dismantled by the city’s construction yard due to decay. This cross also had a predecessor: a cross that was already erected by carpenter W. Mohr in 1843.

Reason for Erection

The reason for the original pest cross was a threatening cholera epidemic. At the place the Mausbachers have always called “At the thirty pieces of silver,” a special burial ground for cholera victims was established in 1843. The pest cross was erected as a cemetery cross and displays the instruments of Christ's suffering – symbols of this scourge of humanity.

Historical Background

In the 19th century, cholera threatened humanity once again. Originally a disease of the Middle Ages, a new epidemic broke out in 1817 in Southeast Asia that spread incessantly westward. Via pilgrimage routes in the Islamic world, the disease reached Damascus, Mecca, and Jeddah.

It spread northward through Russia, reaching Odessa and Moscow in 1830, where about 4,500 people died. Through Königsberg and Danzig, the epidemic made its way further into Central Europe and reached Berlin and Hamburg in 1831, where 1,400 and 1,600 people died, respectively. By 1832, it threatened the western part of Germany. Düsseldorf responded with drastic precautionary measures: shipping traffic on the Rhine was suspended, and incoming travelers from infected areas had to undergo a ten-day quarantine.

Protective Measures

As there was no remedy for cholera, it was essential to avoid contact with the sick – even the dead posed a danger. Therefore, burial grounds and leprosariums were established outside the towns. In Mausbach, the burial ground “Am Burgholz” for cholera victims was created, where the first pest cross was erected in 1842. Fortunately, the cemetery never had to be used.

It is estimated that since the onset of the cholera outbreak around 1830, more than half a million people in Germany fell victim to the disease. The pest cross in Mausbach now stands as a symbol of remembrance for this historical catastrophe.