Beim Wandern im Schnee bin ich auf ein altes Steinkreuz gestoßen. Kottmar, Ostdeutschland. [OC]

It’s not that old: it replaces an older cross (shown in the picture on the sign) that was demolished when the road was built. It commemorates the spot where a local is said to have killed by Hussites: these were Protestants from the Czech lands, so the original cross may have dated from the Hussite Wars of the 15th century, or perhaps the Bohemian Revolt of the 17th century, or even slightly later as the Catholics continued to persecute the Hussites. Unfortunately, the sign doesn’t say, but a local historian might know more.

Crosses and way-shrines are quite common in many parts of Germany and some other European countries as well. They often commemorate places where people were murdered or met with a fatal accident, or were erected by somebody giving thinks for being saved or escaping from some unpleasant fate.