Warsaw 1944

Discussions on all aspects of Poland during the Second Polish Republic and the Second World War. Hosted by Piotr Kapuscinski.
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NavyCdo412
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Location: Belgium

Warsaw 1944

#1

Post by NavyCdo412 » 24 Feb 2021, 19:47

Hello, seeing the page of death toll of 1944 Uprising in Warsaw, why there is not a German war cemetery, when in other areas of Poland there are?

GregSingh
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Re: Warsaw 1944

#2

Post by GregSingh » 25 Feb 2021, 01:37

why there is not a German war cemetery
What makes you think so?
There is one in Wólka Węglowa, another in Modlin.


gebhk
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Re: Warsaw 1944

#3

Post by gebhk » 25 Feb 2021, 12:22

To be fair, the Warsaw Cemetary - precisely the German Quarters of the Northern Cemetary at Wolka Weglowa - was not created formally until 1991 when the remains of 401 German soldiers who had died during WW2 and were buried there, were joined by an estimated further 400 brought from other cemeteries and from field graves. It was certainly controversial because the remains of several war criminals were interred there including those of Jurgen Stroop, infamous for the suppression of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. His name was subsequently chiselled off the memorial plaque to respect the feelings of the local people. It is theorised that SS general Franz Kutschera, the exceptionally murderous head of SS and Police in Warsaw, assassinated early in 1944, may also rest there anonymously.

To go back a step, during the war, the Germans created a Heldenfriedhoff (Heroes' cemetery) extension to the Polish Powazki military cemetery where eventually circa 5,800 documented bodies were placed. After the war this was neglected and from 1955 new Polish graves were placed over much of the area. Consequently the majority of the German bodies remain where they were. Exhumation in the future is unlikely as it would require the demolition of the new Polish infrastructure before it could be attempted. Thus there is a second (and much larger) German military cemetery in Warsaw, albeit a hidden one.

What was left of the Heldenfriedhoff was removed in 1978-80 to make way for the Warsaw-Torun motorway. The remains were exhumed, transferred to the Noirthern Cemetary and the rest you know.

NavyCdo412
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Joined: 02 Dec 2020, 15:50
Location: Belgium

Re: Warsaw 1944

#4

Post by NavyCdo412 » 25 Feb 2021, 22:14

Thank you. Yes, many died during Warsaw uprising. It should be a remembering areaa. To avoid faults of the past. Probably German but also Polish bodies were lost in rubbles after 1944 fighting

Witcher78
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Re: Warsaw 1944

#5

Post by Witcher78 » 28 Jul 2023, 15:05

The Warsaw Uprising of 1944 was a courageous and tragic chapter in Poland's history. The Polish Home Army's valiant efforts to liberate their capital from Nazi occupation demonstrated unwavering resilience and determination. Despite the eventual defeat, the uprising remains a symbol of national pride and a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Polish people.

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