The German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutscher Kriegsgraberfursorge) was formed on 16th December 1919 with the intention of recording and commemorating all the dead of the First World War. Many of the inhabitants of the formerly occupied countries didn't like the idea of so many German cemeteries being scattered across the former battlefields and begrudged their former enemy the land in which they were buried. Some cemeteries were left to ruin and others were being desecrated (many were cared for , however), so the VDK set to looking after these graves and "concentrating" several cemeteries into a fewer number (for example , only 18* WW1 German cemeteries now exist in Belgium out of the 670 + that existed in 1920 (128 cemeteries being concentrated into Langemark alone!), and only 2 from WW2) with a larger amount of "inhabitants". The largest WW1 cemetery exists at Menin in Belgium and contains the final resting place of 47,864 soldiers.

(* These 18 ( Vladslo, Hooglede, Langemarck, Menen, Tarcienne, Maissin, Anloy-Heide, Bertrix-Heide, Neufchateau-Malonne, Bellefontaine, Virton-Bellevue , Musson-Baranzy , Halanzy ,Brussel-Evere ,Eupen, Herstal, St.Vith, Luttich-Robermont ) do not include those in civil cemeteries and British (CWGC) cemeteries.)

After the coming to power of Adolf Hitler in 1933, the work of the VdK was limited as collections for the funding of the organisation were prohibited. After 1940 some "defeatist" or "pacifist" edifices in the WW1 cemeteries were destroyed by the German army and the VdK, as an organisation, was accused of treason and disbanded in 1941 (beginning work again in 1946, but not as a re-constituted body until 1952). In the meantime, the pro-national socialist professor Wilhelm Kreis was appointed (under Albert Speer) as Architect General of German War cemeteries.

After WW2 (1952), the VDK was re-constituted with an even more immense task to achieve - a task which is still ongoing to this day. Similar tasks to WW1 were carried out with the maintenance and relocation and recording of casualties and graves (a task that was even more difficult that that of 1919 due to the immense numbers involved combined with the destruction of so many millions of documents because of Allied air raids), but it wasn't until the 1990's that they were allowed to do their work in the Eastern battle areas. This huge task (in which some graves and cemeteries have been totally lost for 60 years) is being carried out admirably and new cemeteries appear almost yearly. The largest war cemetery in the world is also being constructed , an 80,000 plus "super cemetery" near St.Petersburg (Solugabowka), containing the concentrated remains of soldiers from many of the "lost" cemeteries of this area

The VDK now cares for the graves of several million German war victims in more than 100 countries world-wide. They care for the resting places of more than 1.2 million in over 8,500 cemeteries (military and civil) within Germany alone.

Since July 1966, they have also been responsible for the German graves from the Franco-German War of 1870-71 in France where they care for the resting places of 20,096 war dead buried in 841 mass graves and 1,417 dead buried in 1,178 single graves.

Completely reliant on public contributions for financial support, the VdK receives no government funding but can call upon the support (not always free!) from a variety of organisations (such as the CWGC (when German graves are encountered in their cemeteries) and the French "Sesma") in the upkeep of graves/cemeteries under their care.

Sorry for requoting the whole lot but I found the wording in bold to be an interesting description.

Originally Posted by Marc_St_Hilaire

There is a mass grave with 25,000 dead buried in it. Even on a summer's day the place has a cold, dank, earie feel.

It doesn't really does it. That's just your interpretation of the place.

Originally Posted by Marc_St_Hilaire

I'm sure the German's have many more missing. A visit to Langemark German war cemetry outside Ypres (Ilper) is a real eye-open if you are used to CWGC Cemetries. There are very few of the named headstones, as you would find in a CWGC site and even the ones that are named usualy contain more than on body. There is a mass grave with 25,000 dead buried in it. Even on a summer's day the place has a cold, dank, earie feel.

Fally's comment not withstanding, I did find it hard to equate German losses with Allied on the basis of the cemeteries, Langemarck particularly. I also thought this comparing monuments at El Alamein. I must say CWGC do a better job than anyone - tasteful and respectful without any hint of mawkishness.

Originally Posted by mnairb

I saw a documentary about Stalingrad a few months ago that said that no German (or Russian?) dead were buried and their remains can still be seen in the fields around the city.

Not true - there was a news piece some years ago on locals burrowing into German mass graves for souvenirs. That said, I'm sure that, under the circumstances, many people never got buried.

Originally Posted by FORMER_FYRDMAN

Not true - there was a news piece some years ago on locals burrowing into German mass graves for souvenirs. That said, I'm sure that, under the circumstances, many people never got buried.

Actually kind of true I believe. apparently there are significant numbers of dead still above ground.

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

It doesn't really does it. That's just your interpretation of the place.

What?

Langemark German war cemetery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


I suggest you visit the place. It's a very strange Tutonic, experience.

They found a similar one last year in the same area, it is a mining area so they obviously had local skills and equipment.

That part of the front was comparatively quiet by 1918, there was no way the French could get to Mulhouse, and even if ze Germans got to Belfort they would not have had the resources to take it.
Carspach is overlooked by Hartmannsvillerkopf and they had fought to a standstill there. Without the 'kopf there was no chance of organising an offensive without being observed and shelled.

Originally Posted by Nato Standard123

I felt a distinct lack of recognition of the Allied efforts - apart from the Poles, which may have been due to the shared Catholic BS - when I visited the place a few years back.

Down in the town itself, there was a small poorly funded museum....but the curator couldn't have been more helpful.

The main museum for Monte Cassino is at Piana delle Orme, just outside Latina - about 100km away NW. Piana also has pavilions dedicated to the 1) Western Desert - Salerno landings; 2) Anzio; and 3) Military vehicles of the period. Star of the show in the Western desert - Salerno section is the only working Sherman DD left.

It's a great museum. But then, I would say that, I used to be a guide there.

Originally Posted by Marc_St_Hilaire

What?

Langemark German war cemetery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


I suggest you visit the place. It's a very strange Tutonic, experience.

I agree with you mate, Langemark has quite an 'unsettling' atmosphere.

Our troop did the old Market Garden tour back in 2001, we went around the fantastically looked after CWGC cemeteries. We then went to another German war graves cemetery near(ish) to Arnhem and that was another very dark (yes teutonic!), eerie place.

We then went on to spend a couple of days in Holland getting very, very, very drunk!

Did a visit to Verdun..apparently, when you say it, you have to put a lot of feeling into the 'dun' part of the word to show respect?

Not many British/Commonwealth cemeteries there, as it was mainly a French V German battle/campaign, with a few Russians fighting for the French, then the Yanks showing up later. Their cemetery is beautiful.

There's a place nearby which has thing called the Ossuary. Basically a church with many glass windows looking into the basement (or whatever it's called?).....there are thousands upon thousands of bones on veiw that have been recovered from the battlefield and looked to have been just thrown in there in heaps.

A bit wierd IMO.

verdun ossarie - Google Search