Dealing with the Dead

[tigre]

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Suicides, convicted, executed.

The Wehrmacht exempted suicides, prisoners, and death row inmates from burial rights that came naturally to Wehrmacht members. In the case of suicides, depending on the reason for the suicide (honorable or dishonorable), the commander decided on a burial with military honors or a brief and quiet celebration. The pastor decided on the funeral in the church. The notification to the mourner of the suicide of a family member was given truthfully.

A report about the suicide of a soldier also reached the NSDAP, so the Wehrmacht not only recorded the loss of "combat power", but the NS authorities also took note of it. The affected families could see their benefits reduced or annulled, or were openly discriminated against because their relative had left the "community of destiny of the German people" as a result of his "dishonorable death".

In addition to the suicides, the Wehrmacht prisoners and the executed formed other special groups of people. Depending on the facts of the case, the Wehrmacht granted those in the prison camps an honorable or dishonorable burial. If the military honors were awarded by the prison commandant, the convict's tombstone did not indicate the unit of prisoners, but the original unit. This last tribute brought the deceased back into the Wehrmacht community. However, if the prisoner was denied these honors, the treatment was the same as for suicides, that is, his grave was located apart from the rest of the military cemetery and could only contain a simple cross with his name, date of birth and death.

While suicides and convicts could "earn" or regain military honors, depending on the crime or through parole (in the case of convicts), Wehrmacht members sentenced to death did not receive military honors. Those executed were not allowed to rest in war cemeteries, but were to be buried in civilian cemeteries, with a simple wooden cross as their tombstone instead of the military symbol of the Iron Cross. A glass bottle (usually used only in the absence of dog tags or in the case of a badly decomposed corpse), containing the name, rank and a reference to the death penalty, was to be included with the corpse. Even after death, the dead were to remain recognizable as "unworthy of military service".

Sources: Von Toten and Helden. Die gefallenen Soldaten der Wehrmacht während des Zweiten Weltkriegs. nina janz
Aus der Arbeit zweier Gräberoffiziere an der Ostfront 1941–1944. nina janz
700 WWII GERMAN PHOTO s fm ALBUM plane tank cannon flak. eBay Auction. (Completed)

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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Burial of »dead enemies« and prisoners of war.

Under the Geneva Convention, the Wehrmacht was also required to bury enemy soldiers. A service regulation for the burial of German soldiers was also to be used for "enemy dead"; burial was to be "carried out in the same dignified manner and with the same care" as with the dead themselves, while the standards refer to international guidelines. Enemy soldiers, such as downed pilots or prisoners of war, also needed to be properly buried. Here, however, a distinction was made according to Nazi racial ideology: so-called Western soldiers, mainly from Great Britain, France, Italy and the United States, were to be buried with wreaths and a military delegation, with a cleric and a grave. A cross, if possible, for example in prisoner of war camps. This is different with Eastern European prisoners of war, who were classified by the Wehrmacht as "subhuman" in contrast to the "Germanic race". A burial of deceased prisoners of war from Poland or the Soviet Union was to take place without a clergyman, without a crown, and without military honors. The Wehrmacht continued to discriminate against prisoners of war, primarily those from the Soviet Union, during their burial and after their death, in violation of international law of war.

For Allied soldiers (for example, from Italy), different grave markers were provided depending on their religious affiliation. When burying "Mohammedans", for example, their bodies were to be buried with their heads facing east and south, and under no circumstances were they to be cremated. On the other hand, the downed "terrorist airmen" must be "handed over to the ground" in any case "without military honors" discreetly in the early hours of the morning. This regulation was promulgated based on the reactions of the population. German civilians failed to understand that enemy military personnel who had carried out air raids ("terrorist attacks") against German cities should also receive military honors if they died. According to the new guidelines, therefore, members of enemy forces were always to be buried quietly in the early hours of the morning, away from civilian observers. Military band, funeral salute and the placement of a floral offering would be avoided. However, in special cases, such as accidents, representatives of the German Red Cross and the respective embassy could be invited. In addition, cremations were allowed, for example for Indian prisoners of war. The Wehrmacht tolerated the different customs and religious affiliations of allies and opponents (apart from Jews and Red Army soldiers), at least on paper.

In the case of prisoners of war of Christian faith, the Wehrmacht allowed the participation of clerics (POWs) in the POW camp. If a camp chaplain could not be provided, the camp administration appointed a Wehrmacht chaplain or civilian chaplain. Prisoners of war of other denominations were to be buried in a "simple and dignified manner". Prisoners found their last resting place in special POW camp cemeteries, otherwise in local civilian cemeteries, for example in smaller POW facilities without their own cemeteries. Different regulations applied to Soviet prisoners of war, and burial was to take place in the "simplest way". Jewish prisoners of war were to be buried in Jewish cemeteries.

There are reports from the WGO that, in addition to the recovery of German corpses, they also dealt with the recovery of enemy military personnel. A WGO reported on the costly recovery of two British Army Corps in the Greek Dodecanese archipelago. The two South African soldiers are believed to have stepped on a mine and died. The German rescue command and the WGO first had to deactivate more mines in order to recover the bodies. The fallen were buried in the English Cemetery of Santa Quarante in Alinda. However, these cases can only be applied as exceptions. Most enemy soldiers, prisoners of war, and even the German dead were not granted a proper burial.

Sources: Von Toten and Helden. Die gefallenen Soldaten der Wehrmacht während des Zweiten Weltkriegs. nina janz
Aus der Arbeit zweier Gräberoffiziere an der Ostfront 1941–1944. nina janz
700 WWII GERMAN PHOTO s fm ALBUM plane tank cannon flak. eBay Auction. (Completed)

Cheers. Raúl M .

[CogCalgary]

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Burial of »dead enemies« and prisoners of war.

Under the Geneva Convention, the Wehrmacht was also required to bury enemy soldiers. A service regulation for the burial of German soldiers was also to be used for "enemy dead"; burial was to be "carried out in the same dignified manner and with the same care" as with the dead themselves, while the standards refer to international guidelines. Enemy soldiers, such as downed pilots or prisoners of war, also needed to be properly buried. Here, however, a distinction was made according to Nazi racial ideology: so-called Western soldiers, mainly from Great Britain, France, Italy and the United States, were to be buried with wreaths and a military delegation, with a cleric and a grave. A cross, if possible, for example in prisoner of war camps. This is different with Eastern European prisoners of war, who were classified by the Wehrmacht as "subhuman" in contrast to the "Germanic race". A burial of deceased prisoners of war from Poland or the Soviet Union was to take place without a clergyman, without a crown, and without military honors. The Wehrmacht continued to discriminate against prisoners of war, primarily those from the Soviet Union, during their burial and after their death, in violation of international law of war.

For Allied soldiers (for example, from Italy), different grave markers were provided depending on their religious affiliation. When burying "Mohammedans", for example, their bodies were to be buried with their heads facing east and south, and under no circumstances were they to be cremated. On the other hand, the downed "terrorist airmen" must be "handed over to the ground" in any case "without military honors" discreetly in the early hours of the morning. This regulation was promulgated based on the reactions of the population. German civilians failed to understand that enemy military personnel who had carried out air raids ("terrorist attacks") against German cities should also receive military honors if they died. According to the new guidelines, therefore, members of enemy forces were always to be buried quietly in the early hours of the morning, away from civilian observers. Military band, funeral salute and the placement of a floral offering would be avoided. However, in special cases, such as accidents, representatives of the German Red Cross and the respective embassy could be invited. In addition, cremations were allowed, for example for Indian prisoners of war. The Wehrmacht tolerated the different customs and religious affiliations of allies and opponents (apart from Jews and Red Army soldiers), at least on paper.

In the case of prisoners of war of Christian faith, the Wehrmacht allowed the participation of clerics (POWs) in the POW camp. If a camp chaplain could not be provided, the camp administration appointed a Wehrmacht chaplain or civilian chaplain. Prisoners of war of other denominations were to be buried in a "simple and dignified manner". Prisoners found their last resting place in special POW camp cemeteries, otherwise in local civilian cemeteries, for example in smaller POW facilities without their own cemeteries. Different regulations applied to Soviet prisoners of war, and burial was to take place in the "simplest way". Jewish prisoners of war were to be buried in Jewish cemeteries.

There are reports from the WGO that, in addition to the recovery of German corpses, they also dealt with the recovery of enemy military personnel. A WGO reported on the costly recovery of two British Army Corps in the Greek Dodecanese archipelago. The two South African soldiers are believed to have stepped on a mine and died. The German rescue command and the WGO first had to deactivate more mines in order to recover the bodies. The fallen were buried in the English Cemetery of Santa Quarante in Alinda. However, these cases can only be applied as exceptions. Most enemy soldiers, prisoners of war, and even the German dead were not granted a proper burial.

Sources: Von Toten and Helden. Die gefallenen Soldaten der Wehrmacht während des Zweiten Weltkriegs. nina janz
Aus der Arbeit zweier Gräberoffiziere an der Ostfront 1941–1944. nina janz
700 WWII GERMAN PHOTO s fm ALBUM plane tank cannon flak. eBay Auction. (Completed)

Cheers. Raúl M .

Apparently in North Africa some Italian special forces soldiers were mass cremated by the British.There was a post here I believe of a man selling the size 13 boots that were removed from one soldier.I have wondered why they would do this.

[tigre]

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Death at home and in the conquered areas. Cemeteries of heroes and groves of honor - the burial places for dead soldiers.

During the First World War and after the war, cemeteries and graves of the dead soldiers were created, which were elevated to places of pilgrimage for the German people. The Wehrmacht also tried to enforce this symbolic status for the resting places of recently fallen soldiers to celebrate the national cult of the dead for the Fatherland. The Wehrmacht Casualty Department planned so-called woods of honor as burial places for dead soldiers. The fallen must "rest together where they sacrificed their lives for the greatness, honor and freedom of Germany."

The military in the 'Third Reich' began planning cemeteries and final resting places for their fallen early on. Design guidelines and orders for the installation of so-called war cemeteries were given to combat units throughout Europe and North Africa. After long battles, divisions and armies established large collection sites for their dead. Commanders coordinated planning and design with the WGO and Wehrmacht Casualty Department and local commanders. As the number of casualties grew steadily over the course of the war, the WGO was no longer able to put all German casualties into "worthy" war cemeteries. From 1942, the Wehrmacht Casualty Department dealt with the planning and construction of mass cemeteries in the East with higher priority. Even the cemeteries in the Reich area had to be constantly expanded or new land bought or even confiscated, as the "war situation [...] made more war cemeteries necessary". At the front, too, the actively fighting troops reacted to the fierce battles and associated losses: long, deep rows of graves were prepared at the collection sites in anticipation of new and heavy losses.

The design of the tombs and grounds was regulated by guidelines and orders, from the tombstone to the planting during the different seasons. With the "Design of German War Cemeteries" decree of March 16, 1941, a special representative was also appointed as general construction officer, the architect Wilhelm Kreis. As Generalbaurat, he reported directly to Hitler. His tasks included surveys and proposals for future cemeteries, designing the cemeteries and supervising the artistic design in consultation with Hitler. The responsibility referred to all war cemeteries for the fallen of the current war and also to cemeteries that were established by other corps such as the German War Graves Commission, for example. Wehrmacht units submitted location suggestions to the Generalbaurat and, together with the OKW, submitted detailed suggestions to Hitler, who was responsible for final approval.

Sources: Von Toten and Helden. Die gefallenen Soldaten der Wehrmacht während des Zweiten Weltkriegs. nina janz
Aus der Arbeit zweier Gräberoffiziere an der Ostfront 1941–1944. nina janz
700 WWII GERMAN PHOTO s fm ALBUM plane tank cannon flak. eBay Auction. (Completed)

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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Cemeteries as special “places of consecration for German heroism”

Hitler-approved collection sites were to be created as permanent "hero cemeteries" and "groves of honor." These were to radiate "dignity" and "soldier simplicity". The Wehrmacht used the facilities as places of pilgrimage. The military went to great lengths to design and build; Duty tours and inspections were made by full-time professionals, soldiers were seconded to expansion, time, materials, and effort were invested in creating groves of honor at these locations. The OKW and the General Building Council insisted on a simple design for these future sanctuaries. Pompous or heroic architecture was to be avoided entirely during wartime, and instead only the "soldier's simplicity" was to be expressed. Not only were these cemeteries considered the final resting place of the dead, but the cemeteries were used by the military for parades and commemorations on days of national mourning or church memorial days in November. During the war, Wehrmacht units laid wreaths at all honor cemeteries in the occupied countries, as well as in the theater of operations, and raised the Reich war flag there.

In addition to the construction of war cemeteries, there were already considerations and plans during the war for care and maintenance after the end of the war. Robert Tischler's "fortresses of the dead" that have survived to this day can demonstrate how cemeteries and memorial groves should have been planned and looked after the war. The Wehrmacht Casualties Department rated the importance of the graves highly.

The Wehrmacht Casualties Department never tired of emphasizing the importance of grave care, maintenance and photography. The care of the graves in the Reich, as well as at the front, was related to the internal mood of the family and the "people". A clean and beautiful grave could give those who stayed at home the impression that the Wehrmacht had enough resources for the funeral service and serve as a sign of gratitude to the parents who sacrificed their son for the motherland. Grave images were intended to achieve precisely this effect, also to reassure families that their fallen husband or son was "well cared for" from a distance. Since in most cases the relatives could not come to the resting place of the fallen person, the grave image also played an important role in personal mourning, so the relatives could be close to the loved one through from image. The preparation of the grave photographs was a costly and high effort for the funeral service, but the Wehrmacht Casualties Department and the OKW recognized the "moral claims of the relatives" and supported the additional grave photographs. The Graves Service considered that the attitude of the people to the war depended on the state of the graves in the "motherland" and on the front lines.

The "simple and dignified" cemeteries designed by the Wehrmacht were to be designed without a "meaningless and tasteless accumulation of ornament". Some units put a lot of effort into the construction of the cemetery and its design; they erected monuments, carved artistic figures and tombstones. This effort could not be guaranteed on all fronts depending on the situation.

Sources: Von Toten and Helden. Die gefallenen Soldaten der Wehrmacht während des Zweiten Weltkriegs. nina janz
Aus der Arbeit zweier Gräberoffiziere an der Ostfront 1941–1944. nina janz
700 WWII GERMAN PHOTO s fm ALBUM plane tank cannon flak. eBay Auction. (Completed)

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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Brest-Litowsk 1939 Cemetery.

Sources: Beerdigung 10.PD Soldiers Friedhof BREST-LITOWSK Poland 1939 Sanitäter.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[gebhk]

For what it's worth, the burials at what is now called Srebrzysko (or Centralne) Cemetary in Danzig are a reflection of how affairs were managed 'in country'. Originally opened in 1924, then called Zentralfriedhof, it was little used until 1939 when Danzig was annexed by Germany and the cemetary designated a necropolis for German soldiers from all fronts and for particularly deserving civilians. The first burials were carried out 4-9 September of men of Danzig SS units, the Marinesturmkompanie and crew of the Schleswig Holstein. The actual burials were carried out by staff of the cemetary with the military giving full military honours and with the band of the Schleswig-Holstein in attendance. Numerous photographs of these events were taken; a search of images on the internet will reveal quite a few. Subsequently, it would appear that some of the dead were exhumed at the request of their families, so that they could be buried nearer to home. Interments were recorded in the cemetry recordfs which, unfortunately, appear to have been taken away as the Germans fled Danzig in 1945 and have subsequently been lost.

No such honours were given to the Polish fallen. Nine Polish bodies found on Westerplatte were buried in a mass grave with nothing to mark the place. The remains were only found in 2019 in the course of archaelogical works and of those, two have not been positively identified to date. Two wounded Westerplatte defenders who were taken prisoner and died of their wounds in hospital, were likewise buried in unmarked graves; their final resting place remains unknown to this day.

Thereafter, throughout the war, the Zentralfriedhof was used to inter German soldiers who died of their wounds in Danzig hospitals with increasingly less pomp and ceremony as the war wore on. The cemetary itself was significantly expanded in 1940-41 using POW labour - predominantly French. The POWs were housed in a specially constructed camp for the duration of the works - the area is colloquially known as 'Lagry' ('the prison camp') even today. It was only when the frontline finally reached Danzig, that battlefield dead were buried there directly.

[Dene]

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[Dene]

Beerdigung von 4 Engländern in Frankreich durch Kriegspfarrer Ernst Ufer 251.Infanterie Division.Fotosammlung Denis Daum

[tigre]

Thanks for your input gebhk and Dene for those pictures . Cheers. Raúl M .