Current peace messages directly in front of the Friedensbuche from May 8, 1945

Created: 05/23/2022, 15:03

By: Joerg Domke

Participants in the peace hike to the Anzinger Sauschütt © Stefan Rossmann

One can also demonstrate without calling the event a demo, without banners, slogans and loud speeches.

How this works was experienced during a peace hike in the Ebersberg Forest.

County – How must May 8, 1945 have felt.

The day on which the Second World War officially ended in Europe.

It must have been a day full of emotions for almost everyone back then.

Full of strong feelings, for which terms like liberation or relief can only be understatements.

Ludwig Neissendorfer, then chief forest warden and landlord of the Anzinger Sauschütt, experienced this end of the war.

And probably out of infinite gratitude, he spontaneously planted a beech tree in the middle of the Ebersberg forest.

A peace beech to be exact.

It is marked with a memorial stone, so to speak, which to this day draws attention to the historic event of May 8th.

Peace beech planted on May 8, 1945

The whole thing is located at the Anzinger Sauschütt, which has long since ceased to exist as a forest service building and restaurant.

In the immediate vicinity, however, is the chapel "To our dear lady in the forest" - created by an initiative of hunting master Konrad Esterl and Ludwig Neissendorfer.

The foundation stone was laid in May 1995, the inauguration a year later, almost exactly 26 years ago.

Exactly this ambience deep in the forest was the goal of a star hike on Sunday, which went back to an initiative of the former mayor of Markt Schwaben, Bernhard Winter.

Although he has been out of direct, local political business for years, he is currently particularly involved and at the forefront in something called "Alliance for the Forest" (we reported).

His basic idea for the peace hike on Sunday: setting an example and emphasizing three guiding principles: peace in the world, peace in the forest and peace in the district.

Star migration from two directions

In the morning, in sunny weather, a group set out from the car park near the indoor tennis center in the direction of Sauschütt.

Among other things, the Forstininger brass band, who played twice to serenade on the half-hour walk.

And before the start recorded a birthday song that was sent to England via live stream.

In honor of trombonist Steve's mother.

She was 85 years old.

The second group started at the same time from Purfing.

Musically accompanied by the hunting horn group of the Ebersberger Spielmannszug.

Logistically, everything worked perfectly.

Almost at the same time, the hikers met at the Friedensbuche, where snacks and drinks had already been prepared.

As announced and expressly made a condition by Winter, it was in fact not a demonstration.

Which would have been obvious in view of the local conflicts over whether the forest could also be a location for wind turbines.

"We want to show that people who have different opinions often want the same thing," Winter emphasized in a welcoming speech.

And at the same time promoted approaching each other as people.

But also to feel that a forest is always a special place.

And with a view to the current war situation, he made it clear that despite everything, the people of this world belonged together.

Musicians from Forstinning and Ebersberg will be there

Vice District Administrator Walter Brilmayer took up a quote that, in his own words, recently impressed him: "You only see the bird when it flies away".

In this case, according to the ex-mayor, the bird could also be replaced by the terms peace, freedom, justice and/or health.

"We have become accustomed to peace and freedom and deal with them without thinking that they cannot be taken for granted," said Brilmayer.

His second main thought: “We must be able to find political decisions within our country that are peaceful, fair, decent and respectful.

For me, that's a peace on a small scale."

Forest operations manager Heinz Utschig took on the task of providing answers to the question: Who is the Ebersberg Forest?

Not what... but who.

His thoughts on this in key words: The forest is indispensable, beautiful, is nature, life, is silence and emotion.

Is solitude, living space, resource and wilderness at the same time.

And a living contract between generations.

So many keywords that many participants took the time to talk about.

Admonition to more togetherness

Side note at the end: 410.50 euros were raised spontaneously for the urgently needed renovation of the memorial column at the Friedensbuche.

The money was immediately made available to Mayor Alte of Anzing.

You can read more news from the Ebersberg region here.

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter