engelberg magazin nummer16 sommer

Interessieren Sie sich für Geschichten aus den vergangenen Zeiten Engelbergs? Im Rahmen des Jubi- läums «200 Jahre Engelberg bei Obwalden» erschien das gleichnamige Buch, in dem viele spannende Ge- schichten über das frühere, heutige und zukünftige Engelberg zu lesen sind. Die Festschrift kann online unter www.engelbergbeiobwalden.ch bestellt oder bei der Gemeinde, im Tourist Center, in der Buchhand- lung Höchli sowie im Talmuseum bezogen werden.

Veteranen des Infanterie- bataillons 47 während einer Erinnerungsfeier 1954. Veterans of the 47th infan- try battalion during a me- morial service in 1954

Das Programm der Einwei- hungsfeier von 1928. The programme of the dedi- cation ceremony in 1928

Der Gedenkstein wurde 1928 durch ein privates Komitee angeregt.

The memorial was initiated by a private committee.

What is the story behind the names on the memorial in front of Engelberg’s Abbey church? The answer to this question takes us back to 1918 – a year that actually began quite optimistically in Engelberg. Although the Great War was still raging, increased numbers of guests were returning to the resort. So far, the valley had also been spared from the Spanish flu, which had claimed numerous victims elsewhere in Switzerland. For the time being, Engelberg’s tourism and spa operations continued unimpeded. One of the reasons for this spell of good for- larly high among mobilised troops, and medica l ser v ices were of ten overwhelmed. But in Oc tober 1918 the period of grace was over, when the second wave of the f lu epidemic reached the high A lpine va lley, caus- ing severa l deaths. Then, in early November, more bad news: the 47 th infantr y bat ta lion, in which most soldiers f rom Engelberg were ser v- ing, was ordered to Lucerne for law enforce- ment ser v ice. The government had assigned the army the task of protec ting severa l cities, as it feared the growing socia l unrest cou ld lead to a revolution. Ironica lly, it was on the day of the Armistice, 11 November 1918, that the soldiers f rom Engelberg marched into Lucerne. Their law enforcement duties pro- ceeded without a hitch. The soldiers removed barricades f rom the tram tracks, dispersed demonstrators, and kept strike leaders away f rom fac tories. But when the 47 th infantr y bat ta lion was dismissed on 19 November, anx ieties were running high: over 480 of tune was no doubt that the troops f rom Engelberg were then not ser v ing on the countr y’s borders – the risk of infec tion was par ticu-

the 900 soldiers were suf fering f rom inf lu- enza. Initia lly, the soldiers and their families direc ted their anger at the strikers, whom they held responsible for the sickness. Ten soldiers f rom Engelberg died of the f lu in Lucerne – and it is their names that are listed on the memoria l. In early December 1918, death knells were sounding a lmost daily in Engelberg. But the v illagers were not on ly griev ing, they were a lso gripped with rage. It had become clear that during the f irst days of their illness the sick soldiers had not received adequate care. Ever y thing in a bed until their relatives announced a v isit. What made this sorr y situation even more un- acceptable was the fac t that the necessar y re- sources cou ld easily have been commandeered f rom the numerous hotels in Lucerne. When the commanding of f icer of the 47 th infantr y bat ta lion arrived at the f unera l ceremonies in Engelberg, he was belaboured so v iciously by the families of the deceased soldiers that the chief magistrate of Obwa lden demanded an apology f rom the mourners, despite their grief. And indeed, the commander was not to blame. A subsequent investigation revea led that the city physician of Lucerne was largely responsible for the appa lling conditions at the hospita l. Yet he was never brought to justice. The memoria l to the soldiers was opened in a grand ceremony on 16 Decem- ber 1928. Memoria l ser v ices continued to be held for many years, until the memor y of those young soldiers gradua lly faded. was in shor t supply in the im- prov ised hospita ls. Some pa- tients had spent severa l days on straw mat tresses, or even on the bare cement f loor. Seri- ously ill men were not placed

The sick soldiers did not re- ceive adequate care during the first days of their illness.

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blick zurück | looking back

blick zurück | looking back