Alsdorf Miners' Memorial Cross

The Alsdorf Miners' Cross commemorates the 271 miners who lost their lives on October 21, 1930, at the Anna Mine during the serious mining accident in Alsdorf's Eduardschacht shaft.The cross, made of plain gray metal, was erected southwest of Eicherscheid on a rocky outcrop above the Belgenbach stream. The current cross, made of stainless steel, was erected in 1988. The original cross had rusted and is now located in the Mining Museum in Alsdorf.It, along with the Eifelblick rest area, is located on the Heckenlandschaft hiking trail, which leads southeast from the Belgenbach Mill on the steep slope of the Belgenbach valley to Eicherscheid. (Source: Wikipedia)

The “Alsdorf Miner's Cross”, which commemorates the accident on the Anna 2 mine with 271 dead miners, had long been forgotten. It was only found and rediscovered in mid-1988. The Eifelverein Ortsgruppe Alsdorf saw it as a matter of course to take care of the forgotten monument and to put it in a venerable condition. The initial restoration intention - rust removal and a new coat of paint - was given up. Instead, a new cross made of stainless steel was erected. The solemn inauguration then took place on the day of penance and bed of the same year. Source: Chronicle of the Eifelverein OG Alsdorf.

"...The accident was the result of a severe firedamp explosion on the 360-meter level near the Eduard Shaft. In this shaft, the fresh air penetrated into the underground part of the mine. The effects of the explosion were extraordinary in that massive destruction occurred not only on the 360- and 460-meter levels in the form of tunnel collapses between 100 and 300 meters, but the devastation was also exceptionally great in the Eduard Shaft and above ground.
The force of the explosion was enormous. Above ground, the massive shaft building, including the suspended bank with the car circulation system, was destroyed. The steel headframe above the Eduard Shaft was torn from its foundations. It collapsed, shattering the eastern wall of the staff building and the neighboring administration buildings, which housed the operations manager, August Kleine, and 11 other supervisors. Windows shattered and doors were smashed in the immediate and wider area of Alsdorf. The explosion was audible from afar. Smoke rising from the Eduard Shaft permeated the streets and rows of houses in the town. Fortunately, the exploding Wilhelm Shaft and its fan remained undamaged, so many miners survived thanks to the largely functioning ventilation system. ..."
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