German Military Cemetery Sarajevo

[Xavier]

great detective work G.thanks.!
so, the bodies remained, altought all surface traces were removed...?

[G. Trifkovic]

Hi Xavier,

yes, apparently so; whether the authorities decided to remove the remains later on is not known to me.

Thanks,

G.

[Gewehr41]

Hi all, have you contacted Volksbund?

[FlyingStukas]

Brilliant work, Gaius!
For the removal of the bodies and their alleged relocation, we would have to ask one of the older employees of the Lav Cemetery, if they have the slightest indication of was it actually done.

Cheers,
Filip

[FlyingStukas]

Allegedly, the same cemetery from a different angle. Also August 1944. I'm not 100% sure on the link however, it is said that the picture was shared to a Facebook group collecting old photographs of Sarajevo by one of the members. Again, as for one of the previous photos, very hard to determine if the men are SS, due to low image quality (insignia not visible).

Cheers,
Filip

[G. Trifkovic]

Hi,

just a few photos of the site taken from the east (Patriotske lige Street); until very recently, the ground was practically hidden from sight by thick underbrush, which is now gone. The buildings in the center belong the the hospital, those to the right are the Faculties of Architecture and Construction. The last photo shows the civilian cemetery on the opposite side of the street, with the fog-covered Hum in the distance.

Best,

G.

[Ivan Ž.]

Thanks for the new photos, G.

Cheers,
Ivan

PS
That's some nice snow you got there.

[FlyingStukas]

Excellent photos, G. If you took them, I hope you have a pleasant stay in Sarajevo.

The question remains - are the remains of fallen German soldiers still at this location? The grave markers were removed post-war, yet I'm not so sure about the remains themselves. If they're still there, this could be of great interest to the Volksbund and the German Embassy.

Filip

[G. Trifkovic]

Thanks for the new photos, G.

Cheers,
Ivan

PS
That's some nice snow you got there.

Excellent photos, G. If you took them, I hope you have a pleasant stay in Sarajevo.

The question remains - are the remains of fallen German soldiers still at this location? The grave markers were removed post-war, yet I'm not so sure about the remains themselves. If they're still there, this could be of great interest to the Volksbund and the German Embassy.

Filip

Thanks both Ivan and Filip.

@Filip: it doesn't seem to me that anyone is in particular hurry to get the entire cemetery thing moving.

Best,

Gaius

[FlyingStukas]

Hello all,

Having learnt more about the history of the Lav Graveyard, I want to share the following:
Apparently, the remains of the soldiers were NOT excavated and dug up until the 1980's and the building of the Zetra Olympic Hall. This is interesting as most cemeteries and known graveyards of Axis troops were destroyed by the Partisans through decree in 1945 and 46. Whether the German Volksbund or any other authorities were notified of this, I do not know. Some speculate the remains were all thrown into a mass grave on the location of the Lav Cemetery.

Cheers,
Filip