The Klinger Mausoleum in Kollmitzdörfl: A Dark 1926 Forest Drama

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During a hike in the forest near Kollmitzdörfl, you come across a gloomy building surrounded by a small wall. Since this building has a small bell tower, one first thinks of a chapel in the forest. In reality, however, it is a mausoleum. Baron Hugo Klinger had it built for his wife in 1926. The mausoleum is reminiscent of a drama that took place in this forest in 1926.

In 1916 the very rich Baron Hugo Klinger von Klingerstorff, one of Austria's largest textile manufacturers and a landowner, married Comtesse Sybille von Spiegelfeldt, who was 6 years his junior. The bride's father was the imperial governor of Tyrol, a high-ranking official of the nobility, but no longer so rich. The connection was beneficial for both families. Sybille, who was living in Vienna at the time and was known for her beauty and her singing voice, moved to Raabs Castle to live with her husband.

The marriage was normal so far. Three children were born, Maria Magdalena (1918), Hubert (1920) and Albertine (1921). Sybille adored her children and insisted on taking care of their upbringing. She was often seen walking through the woods with the children. Hugo loved Sybille, but he loved hunting even more. He neglected Sybille because he was either on business trips or hunting in his woods. Sybille suffered greatly from it.

When Sybille fell ill with a lung disease, the doctor prescribed a cure in Merano, and her husband accompanied her there. There the couple met the Russian émigré Cyrill Konstantin Orlow, who introduced himself as a former Grand Duke. At first, both spouses did a lot together with Cyrill. But he fell in love with Sybille, who was 10 years older than him. Sybille also quickly developed feelings for Cyrill. While still in Merano, there was a conversation between Hugo, Sybille and Cyrill, in which Sybille and Cyrill confessed their love and Hugo initially consented to a divorce. Then he left.

After her cure, Sybille returned to Raabs Castle, also under pressure from her father and because of her children, but remained in contact with Cyrill. From time to time there were secret meetings. But that wasn't enough for the couple. They wanted to live together. Hugo had now changed his mind and no longer wanted to agree to the divorce.

Cyrill, who had meanwhile moved to Vienna to be closer to his lover, tried several times to meet Hugo to ask him again to consent to the divorce. This turned out to be difficult because Sybille's father was now also living in the castle and forbade him to enter it. Sybille and Cyrill telephoned every day. When Sybille found out that her husband wanted to go hunting near the castle, she told Cyrill. He wanted to try to meet Hugo in the forest so that he could finally talk to him.

On June 2, 1926, Cyrill drove to Raabs in a rental car accompanied by a friend. They met Sybille at the sawmill on the road to Grosau. She got into the car and showed Cyrill the hunting ground near Kollmitzdörfl. Then she let herself be dropped off at the sawmill and went back to the castle.

Cyrill drove back to the hunting ground and found Hugo. The two men quickly got into an argument. Hugo no longer wanted to consent to the divorce. In the meantime, Hugo had found out that Cyrill was not a grand duke, but only a baron. He insulted Cyrill very badly. So far, the statements of the two men coincide.

Suddenly the friend who was left in the car and the chauffeur of the rental car heard two shots. After a moment, Cyrill staggered out of the forest, covered in blood. His right upper arm was completely torn open by a bullet. He told the horrified men about a duel. Hugo also staggered through the forest, hit in the back, and was picked up by a wagon owner, to whom he said someone had shot at him. Both men were transported to Raabs. Cyrill later had to be taken to the hospital in Waidhofen due to his very serious injuries.

From then on the statements of the two men are different. Cyrill explained that Hugo had already turned to leave, but then picked up his hunting rifle, whereupon Cyrill drew his pistol and shot Hugo. Hugo explained that he had turned to go and Cyrill would have shot him in the back, whereupon Hugo turned around and shot Cyrill.

First, Cyrill and Sybille were accused of a murder plot. Therefore, Sybille was to be picked up for interrogation on June 3, 1926. When the gendarmerie arrived at the castle, Sybille agreed to come with them. She explained that she only had to change clothes, went to her room, shot herself in the temple and died on the spot. When Cyrill heard of the death of his beloved in the hospital, he was very shocked and desperate. But he no longer felt obliged to keep silent and said that the conversation with Hugo was just a last attempt. The two, Sybille and Cyrill, wanted to commit suicide together should the conversation not go well, because they loved each other so much and could no longer be apart; the farewell letters were already written. The gendarmerie continued to investigate. The suspicion of the murder plot was ruled out by many testimonies and the discovery of the letters.

In addition to the serious injuries, Cyrill contracted pneumonia in the hospital and died on June 15, 1926, in the hospital in Waidhofen. He was buried in the cemetery in Waidhofen with great sympathy from the population. His grave no longer exists.

Hugo had his wife buried quietly at the point of the exchange of fire and later had the mausoleum built for her. Since then, all family members have been buried there. Hugo, too. The last funeral took place in 2020.

What exactly happened here on June 2, 1926, will probably never be found out.