Folge 12: Einäscherung im Krematorium – Was wirklich passiert

What really happens during cremation – and what actually ends up in the urn? In episode 12, Prof. Dr. Michael Tsokos accompanies the managing director of the Perleberg Crematorium and provides a rare, factual insight behind the scenes of a cremation. Each deceased is cremated individually and receives a fireproof identification stone made of fireclay. This is already carried in the coffin and can be linked to the deceased's personal data for years. At the center is a modern multi-level furnace with four separate combustion chambers. The main combustion chamber is at the top, and the ash collection container is at the bottom. In one documented case, Dr. Tsokos found an osteosynthesis plate, a hip prosthesis, and the identifying fireclay brick there. What happens to the remaining metal parts? They are sorted out by a technical employee on a sorting table and then disposed of by a certified company. Only human cremated remains go into the urn. The ashes are then finely ground in a grinder and placed directly into the ash capsule – so that no part is lost. Dr. Tsokos also answers frequently asked questions about cremation: Is cremation with or without clothing? With clothing. Is cremation possible without a coffin? No. Only in exceptional cases, such as burial in a shroud, e.g., in North Rhine-Westphalia for Muslim burials. Does the skull burst during cremation? Not directly – but heat fractures do occur. Does the deceased sit up in the coffin during cremation? Not really – however, the rapid loss of water causes the legs to rise slightly. How long does cremation take? Around three hours at temperatures up to 1,400 degrees Celsius. Another frequently asked question is: What happens to dental gold? The answer will follow in part two – next week. Watch now and learn more about the reality behind cremation. Subscribe to the channel and activate notifications so you don't miss an episode. #DrTsokos, #crematorium, #cremation, #cremation, #ashes, firebrick, #dental gold, #post-mortem examination, #legal medicine, #pathology, #cremation, #forensic medicine, #forensics, #burial