Early Life

Oskar Krause was a Jewish Soldier in WW1. He was born on the 18th of August 1894. Oskar Krause spent his first years in Kattowitz, Oberschlesien. His father was Hermann Krause and worked as a businessman in Darmstadt. After finishing high school, Oskar Krause began a one-year voluntary service.

Adult Life

Oskar wanted to work as a businessman like his father and studied in the Darmstädter Herdfabrik GmbH. After he finished his education, World War One began. In 1914 his mother died.

Military Experience

In June 1915 Oskar entered the war as a recruit in the Infantry Regiment 115. After 6-weeks of training Oskar Krause went to Beverlod, Belgium. There he continued his training as a patrolman. On the 1st of October 1915 he was hit by a mine at Tahure 192, Champagne.

Consequently, he died that night in the main station Sechault. On October 8th, he was buried at the soldiers' cemetery. On February 8th Oskar Krause was buried at the Israeli graveyard with military honours.

His family has since removed his grave to Darmstadt, which has been a consolation to his relatives.

Characteristics

Oskar Krause was a very sympathetic, calm, undemanding and hardworking person with an intellectual talent.

Maren Carolin Fritz

Hello and welcome. My name is Maren Carolin Fritz and I'm sixteen years old. I live in Frankfurt am Main in Germany and I'm a student of the Liebigschool. I'm visiting the 10th grade and my favourite subjects are biology, history and art. In my leisure time I like to draw and to meet friends. On June 20th to June 24th I participated in the project "My Adopted Soldier"

I had the honor to be a part of the special project "my adopted soldier", in which I was able to adopt and represent the fallen Jewish soldier Oskar Krause. He died as many thousands of others in WW1.

Our study trip to Leuven, Belgium
21st to the 24th of June

On June 21, 2017 we arrived in Leuven, Belgium at 12 o’clock. After we were warmly greeted, we did some icebreaking games. Subsequently we did a city tour in mixed groups. Then followed presentations by some Irish and German students and after dinner we had free time. The first day stood entirely in the spirit of learning more of each other.

The next day we visited the European Parliament. There we had some more presentations. Then we travelled to this special destination called the "Island of Ireland Peace Park", the "Pool of Peace", where we observed a Minute of silence. We also observed a Minute of silence at Bayernwald. Bayernwald is a place where old trenches were renewed so you can pass through them. We also visited some military cemeteries, where some more presentations were presented. After an eventful day we arrived at a hostel in Poperinge. We stayed there for one night.

On the third day we visited the German military cemetery "Vladslo". Every German and Irish student put a rose down in memory of the adopted soldiers. Our next step was the German cemetery "Langemark". After lunch we went to the most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen, named "Tyne Cot", which includes a memorial wall.

Then we went to the City of Ieper, where we visited the "Museum of Flandern fields". There you can learn a lot about World War One. After the stay in the museum we were all hungry and because of this we went to a Restaurant for dinner. At the official end of the study trip we took part in a daily ceremony in the City of Ieper, where we laid a wreath in commemoration of World War One and its numerous sacrifices.

On June 24, 2017 our study trip ended with an emotional farewell.
At every cemetery I am aware of how many victims World War One required. Often the fallen soldiers were very young, e.g. one of us presented a soldier, who was only fourteen years old. To commemorate him, two Irish students sang a song. For me this honour was the most emotional part of the whole trip. I learned a lot new about World War One and I had a lot of fun working with the Irish students. I am grateful for this unique experience.

This Project was an amazing experience. I learned a lot of new information about World War One and at the same time I could honour a man who died much too young. The Project is truly unique and I'm glad to have been a part of it. I can only recommend this project to everyone. Especially, in times when so much war and hate govern, this project teaches you how important peace is and how cruel the war.