One of the old cemeteries in Munich said to be haunted is the Alter Südfriedhof, or the old south cemetery. According to lore, the ghostly voices of the so-called Eskimo Tragedy are still heard at night. 

Before Munich expanded into the modern metropolis it is today, Alter Südfriedhof served as the city’s primary burial ground a few hundred meters south of the Sendlinger Tor (Sendlinger Gate) between Thalkirchner Straße to the west and Pestalozzistraße to the east. 

Read More: Check out all ghostly legends from Germany

The Old Southern Cemetery in Munich was established in 1563 as a plague cemetery, then known as the “ferterer Freithof” (outer cemetery), outside the city gates. Thousands of plague victims, soldiers, and notable citizens rest beneath its weathered gravestones. From 1788 to 1868, it was the sole and general burial ground for the dead from the entire city. 

Visitors often describe an unsettling silence that seems to swallow every sound. Reports of ghostly silhouettes drifting between monuments and unexplained cold spots have made this cemetery one of Munich’s most enduring paranormal hotspots.

Source

The Eskimo Tragedy

Among the most famous ghosts are nine students and actors who burned to death in their Eskimo costumes at a carnival ball on February 18, 1881 that was remembered as the Eskimo Tragedy. 

That evening, the Munich Academy of Fine Arts held its 1881 carnival celebration at Kil’s Colosseum. The theme was “A Pub Crawl Around the World.” The students had created various scenes from around the world, which were displayed throughout the hall, and dressed up accordingly.

Before the Fire: German photographer circa 1881: “Living Pictures” from the artists’ costume party of the Academy of Fine Arts “Knee Prizes Around the World” in Kil’s Colosseum, before the fire on February 18, 1881

The sculpture class were dressed up as polar bears and inuits, although their theme was Antartica. There was a papier-mâché igloo, as well as icebergs made of wood and plaster and herring fried over tallow candles.

Around midnight, one of the costumed figures got too close to a candle flame. The others rushed to his aid, but the flames quickly spread to their costumes. The tubs of water that had been placed inside the set for safety were forgotten in the spreading panic.

Startled by the screams of the burning Eskimos, the neighboring “Indians” wearing long coats tried to extinguish the flames, but were unsuccessful. Several of the festival-goers also tried to help the performers, dousing them with their drinks, but most did not recognize the seriousness of the situation or mistook the flames for a planned performance.

The incident was over after four minutes. While the carnival celebration continued for another hour, the twelve seriously injured were taken to the general hospital.

Seven of the nine deceased were buried in a mass grave at the Old Southern Cemetery in Munich.

The Ghosts of the Cemetery

Following this incident, all carnival events in Munich were cancelled in 1881. As a consequence, the city of Munich tightened fire safety regulations and security measures. Seven of those burned were buried in a common grave in the Old Southern Cemetery (today section 20). Their cries of pain are still said to be heard in the cemetery on that night.

Source: Andreas Bohnenstengel

During the bombing raids of World War II, the Southern Cemetery resembled a battlefield. Eyewitnesses reported open graves, broken headstones, and exposed, half-decomposed body parts. And even today, it is said that every year on February 18th, shortly before midnight, cries of pain can be heard. These are the laments of nine art students who, in the winter of 1881, were burned alive in their Eskimo costumes on their way home from a carnival ball.

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References:

Das sind Münchens gruseligste Ecken

Alter Südfriedhof (München) – Wikipedia

Eskimotragödie – Wikipedia