In February 1918, the Hlučín-born priest Johann Nepomuk Manderla (1843–?), spiritual counsellor and, from 1893, parish priest at Dětmarov near Głubczyce, announced his intention to erect a memorial cross at the entrance to the cemetery by St Margaret’s, on the site of an old wooden cross, donating 2,200 marks for the purpose. Hugo Stanke soon asked the architect Hanns Schlicht (1873–?) – his collaborator on the renewal of St Margaret’s and designer of works at the parish church – to prepare a design.
Schlicht’s initial vision was a monumental marble memorial set with one-metre-high artistically executed figures of the Crucifixion group, but the cost would have exceeded the available funds several times over. He therefore proposed a pedestal and cross made from cast artificial-stone elements, to be mounted on a masonry base.
The castings of the individual components were made by the Wrocław firm Wilborn & Feldermann (modeller Richard Wilborn), specialists in artificial stone and what was called “sandstone casting”. The hollow pieces were then set on the prepared base and filled with mortar. The monument comprises an imposing pedestal with a front inscription panel, volutes to either side, and an undulating cornice. Above it is the winged head of a seraph, from which two garlands descend; three plaited garlands also adorn the sides of the pedestal. From this, a cross rises, with a foot bearing a flaming-heart motif. The crucifix is flanked by attendant figures of the Virgin Mary and St John.
In July, the separate pieces were brought from Wrocław and installation began; the cross was officially consecrated on 14 September 1919.
After the Second World War, the German text on the pedestal was chiselled off, and the original crucifix has not survived. This missing element was replaced by a new stone cross of much smaller size, which appears somewhat out of proportion. During repairs in 2016, the original inscription was restored: Es ist vollbracht. Vater, in deine Hände lege ich meinen Geist – It is accomplished. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
