Berliner Innenstadt in Mitte, Germany — Northeast German Plain (The European Plain)
Gewiss und ungerecht
⎯⎯⎯
Certain and Unjust
Photographed by James Hulse, March 7, 2026
1. Gewiss und ungerecht / Certain and Unjust Marker
Die Sonnenuhr soll an die Sonnenuhr im Krögel erinnern, vor dem Abriss Mitte der 1930er Jahre ein heruntergekommenes Quartier an der Südseite des Molkenmarktes (→ Tafel 5). Die Uhr trug folgende lateinische Inschrift (hier übersetzt): „Der Tod ist gewiss, die Stunde ungewiss“ – vom Berliner Mundwerk augenzwinkernd transferiert in: „Todsicha jeht die Uhr unjenau!“
Unterschlupf für einen Feind der Obrigkeit:
Gewiss ist der Tod des Küsters Thomas Meißner und seiner Frau im Jahre 1540. Sie hatten Hans Kohlhase, berühmt geworden unter dem Namen „Michael Kohlhaas“ durch die gleichnamige Kleist-Novelle, in ihrem Haus versteckt (ehemals Propststraße 15). Kohlhase, ein wohlhabender Cöllner Kaufmann, geriet in Existenznot, als auf dem Weg zur Leipziger Messe zwei seiner Pferde beschlagnahmt wurden. Nicht nur der schuldige Junker Zaschwitz verweigerte den Ersatz, auch der sächsische Hof ignorierte Kohlhases Anspruch. Dieser erklärte Sachsen daraufhin die Fehde!
Nachdem der Kurfürst sächsischen Rittern gestattete, ihn auch auf brandenburgischem Territorium zu bekämpfen, griff Kohlhase nahe der danach benannten
this page online
Kurfürst Joachim II. (Gemälde um 1551)
Kohlhase (Lithographie um 1800)
Sonnenuhr am Krögel
Uncertain times:
The sundial was installed to commemorate another sundial located in the Krögel, a run-down area of Molkenmarkt (→panel 5) which was demolished in the mid 1930s. The sundial bore the Latin inscription 'Death is certain, the hour is uncertain', which was playfully transformed by the locals into 'It's dead certain that the clock is imprecise!'.
Certainly injust:
In 1540, the sexton Thomas Meissner and his wife were executed for hiding Hans Kohlhase
Photographed by James Hulse, March 7, 2026
2. Gewiss und ungerecht / Certain and Unjust Marker
The marker is located at the right side of the building.
After Prince-Elector Joachim II gave permission to Saxon knights to attack Kohlhase within the territory of Brandenburg, Kohlhase staged a raid on one of the sovereign's silver convoys. Following the raid, safe transport to conduct negotiations with Joachim II was promised to Kohlhase, but the promises were a ruse: he was arrested along with the sexton, his wife, and additional abettors. The latter were immediately executed, and Kohlhase and his remaining accomplices were cruelly broken on the wheel. The public's sympathies on this occasion were with Kohlhase, however, and they did not cheer his bloody execution.
Elector Joachim II (painting, around 1551)
Kohlhase (lithograph, around 1800)
Sundial at Krögel
Erected by Nikolai Viertel 1237. (Marker Number 4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1540.
Location. 52° 31.032′ N, 13° 24.447′ E. Marker is in Berlin, in Mitte. It is in Berliner Innenstadt. It is at the intersection of Propststraße and Am Nußbaum, on the left when traveling east on Propststraße. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Propststraße 1, Berlin 10178, Germany. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, Central Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire, the former East Germany, and at the Berlin Wall.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Zum Nußbaum (a few steps from this marker); Berliner Originale / Berlin Originals (a few steps from this marker); Martin Heinrich Klaproth (within shouting distance of this marker); Nikolaikirche / St. Nicholas Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Nikolaikirche / St. Nicholas Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Das Kaufhaus Israel, ein Opfer der Nazis / The Israel Department Store, a Victim of the Nazis (within shouting distance of this marker); Titel, Namen & Spitznamen / Titles, Names & Nicknames (within shouting distance of this marker); Nikolaikirchplatz: Lessing vs. Preußen / Nikolaikirchplatz: Lessing vs. Prussia (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berlin.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 18 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 27, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
