Commemoration in Maybach: 98 miners forever in the heart of the region

Commemoration in Maybach: 98 miners forever in the heart of the region

On October 25, 1930, a tragic event occurred Firedamp and coal dust explosion in the Maybach mine, where 98 miners lost their lives. This disaster not only affected many families in Saarland, but also kept memories of the dangers of mining alive. On October 26, 2025, a memorial ceremony took place in Friedrichsthal to commemorate the victims and recognize the importance of mining for the region.

The celebrations at the memorial in Maybach were carried out by the miners' associations from Friedrichsthal and Bildstock. Mayor Christian Jung and Deacon Gerd Fehrenbach from the Catholic parish of St. Michael Friedrichsthal gave impressive speeches. Jung recalled the central role that mining has played in the lives of people here and emphasized the sense of community that has arisen through collaboration underground. RegioJournal reports that Fehrenbach praised the humanity and willingness to help that became visible in the population as a result of the accident in 1930.

Community and memory

Hans-Josef Maurer, chairman of the miners' association, also spoke about the important obligation to keep the memories of the deceased alive. This honor took place in an appreciative atmosphere, which was reinforced by the presence of numerous city council members, including representatives from the SPD, CDU and Citizens for Friedrichsthal. First Alderman Jacqueline Reimann-Jung and Alderman Peter Bickelmann were also present.

The event ended with a quiet moment of pause and the traditional greeting “Glück auf”. This custom illustrates the values ​​of cohesion, solidarity and humanity that are strongly anchored in Saarland mining.

The Dangers of Mining

A firedamp explosion is caused by an explosion of striking weather, a dangerous mixture of methane and air, which develops high explosive power when the methane content reaches 9.5 percent. These explosions have been a serious risk in the German coal mining industry since the 19th century. Reports of such disasters, such as the one in which over 100 miners died at the Neu-Iserlohn colliery in 1868, show the questionable safety of the conditions at the time. Wikipedia informs about the numerous protective measures that have been developed over time, including the avoidance of open flames and the introduction of safety explosives.

The severe firedamp explosion in the Luisenthal mine, which claimed 299 lives in 1962, is another example of the devastating consequences of such events and is in the context of the dangers that mining entailed. The memory of these tragedies is kept alive particularly at events such as the recent commemoration in Friedrichsthal.

In the aftermath of mining, which played a central role in Germany for decades, the focus is not only on the memory of such accidents, but also on the question of the future of former mining regions. Mining activity is ending in many areas, with far-reaching social and economic consequences. Deutschlandfunk culture analyzed, how different recultivation approaches in former mining areas, especially in the Ruhr area and in Lusatia, offer different challenges and perspectives.