In a forest near Kemoding in Germany, the pregnant Anna Schwarzenberger was murdered. Since then, people have spoken of the White Lady of Köhlholz, who finds no peace. A cross now stands as a reminder of this event.
A large wooden cross in the Köhlholz forest, directly on the B 388 near Kemoding, has been erected as a wayward shrine as a reminder of several events: terrible accidents along the dangerous road and a bloody murder that happened in 1831.
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The 2.5-meter-high “Fertlbauernkreuz” (Fertlbauer Cross) was built by initiative of Andreas Faltermaier from Kemoding, as a wayside shrine of the same name had long stood on this spot , but disappeared a few years ago. In the Kemoding area alone, a small hamlet belonging to the municipality of Fraunberg, several very different crosses can be found.
The Murder in Köhlholz Forest
The Köhlholz is one of the largest wooded areas in the district and stretches from Kreuthäusl on the B 388 to Danerberg, just before Ottering. Since the 19th century, the forest has been primarily known for a gruesome murder.
On July 31, 1831, a lover stabbed a young, heavily pregnant woman 14 times there. Because of people still living with the name in the area, his name is often retracted from records. He was an unmarried farmer known as MG from H. She was Anna Schwarzenberger from Lern (Berglern).
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On that fateful night, he had tricked his lover into believing he was inviting her to the fair in Dorfen. After stabbing her, he then drowned her in a small pond when she was still alive, even after all of her stab wounds. The murder went undiscovered for almost three weeks until G. turned himself in.
Anna Schwarzenhuber was eight months pregnant at the time of her death and the newspaper at the time, the Bayerische Landbötin, called the perpetrator a “reject of humanity.” G. was sentenced to death. However, his mother, through an appeal to the king, managed to have the death sentence commuted to life imprisonment in chains. G. presumably died in prison.
The Haunting of the Forest
Since then, the legend has persisted that Anna has never found peace. Since the 19th century, many coachmen have reported seeing the sad, heavily pregnant mother wandering about as a white figure. In the past, farmers used to drive their carts at high speed through the Köhlholz forest.
Even today, she is occasionally sighted by walkers in the Köhlholz forest. Many people still report that they are overcome by a deep sadness when they drive through the Köhlholz. Driving through the Köhlholz forest, Anna is said to appear and sit in the passenger seat and gaze at you with large, sad eyes.
Especially at the end of August and beginning of September, a faint crying or sobbing can supposedly be heard. It was during this time of year that Anna’s child was said to have been born.
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In a forest near Kemoding in Germany, the pregnant Anna Schwarzenberger was murdered. Since then, people have spoken of the White Lady of Köhlholz, who finds no peace. A cross now stands as a reminder of this event.
References:
An der B 388 bei Kemoding: Ein Kreuz für die weiße Frau vom Köhlholz
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