Erich Garske

Indeed, when the Communist Party in exile smuggled people back into Germany from Prague, Moscow or Paris to work on party matters, one of the places where they might be hidden and accommodated was in the Garskes' apartment in central Berlin.

As early as 1934 they secretly accommodated Eugen Schwebinghaus [de], a close party colleague of Robert Stamm.

[4] Erich Garske was able to help Alfred in his work by producing satirical drawings and other art work for illegal party publications, notably with a news journal called "Der Friedenskämpfer" ("The Fighter for Peace").

[3] "Alfred" was the code name used by Wilhelm Knöchel, an exceptionally effective communist resistance organiser.

[3] On 9 November 1943, the special "People's Court" sentenced Erich and Charlotte Garske to death.

The memorial stone to the Garskes was erected in 1944 by their friends at a lakeside camping place where they often stayed. Predating the collapse of the Nazi régime, it is one of the earliest public memorials in Germany to Nazi victims. It was renovated - washed and repainted - in 2013. The memorial enjoys "protected" status.