Funeral service for fallen enemy combatants during WW2

[Panzermahn]

Hi all,

During the WW2, the armies of each side (at least in the European Theater of Operations) did conduct funerals for fallen enemy combatants. How common was this practice among the belligerents of WW2?


For example, it is recorded that the Germans conducted funeral service for two RAF crewmen who was shot down over the Channel Islands



http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/raf-air ... land-1943/


Also another example of Germans conducting funeral service for the bodies of a French and English soldier who washed ashore



http://histomil.com/viewtopic.php?t=16117


The British conducted funeral for fallen Luftwaffe crewmen:



http://histomil.com/viewtopic.php?f=338 ... 0b1#p98332


I am also aware of several case where the Germans buried fallen Soviet servicemen (e.g. the 6 tank crewmen of the single KV2 that hold the Germans during the Battle of Raseiniai) but I haven't seen any pictures of it.

Doug Nash's book Hell Gate also mentioned about Soviet troops conducting a funeral service for the body of General Wilhelm Stemmerman during the Battle of Tcherkassy

However I never heard before that the Japanese conducted funeral service for fallen Allied troops so if anyone had such examples, feel free to share it here.

PZM

[bertamingo]

The Japanese held funerals for some Chinese military members who were considered to be gallant enough to earn their respect，including Lieutenant General Zhang Zizhong who fought to the death with his soldiers, and a pilot Yan Haiwen whose plane was shot down in Shanghai and either committed suicide or fought to death after being persuaded to surrender by Japanese infantry on the ground.

[Poot]

German KM personnel conducted a funeral for fallen RM Commandos following the raid at Ste. Nazaire.
Pat

[Panzermahn]

The Japanese held funerals for some Chinese military members who were considered to be gallant enough to earn their respect，including Lieutenant General Zhang Zizhong who fought to the death with his soldiers, and a pilot Yan Haiwen whose plane was shot down in Shanghai and either committed suicide or fought to death after being persuaded to surrender by Japanese infantry on the ground.

This is something new to me. Any pictures of these funeral ceremonies?

[bertamingo]

There was a photo showing the tombstone set up by the Japanese for Yan Haiwen, which reads "Tomb of the Brave Warrior of the Chinese Air Force" in Japanese. Other than that, I haven't seen any pictures showing the actual funeral process.

[Panzermahn]

American funeral service for Japanese general Yoshitsugu Saitō in Saipan 1944



Image source from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshitsugu_Sait%C5%8D.

[Sheldrake]

[LineDoggie]

However I never heard before that the Japanese conducted funeral service for fallen Allied troops so if anyone had such examples, feel free to share it here.

PZM

US pilots grave Kiska Island, Aleutians 1943

"Sleeping here, a brave air-hero who lost youth and happiness for his Mother land. July 25 - Nippon Army".

[Panzermahn]

However I never heard before that the Japanese conducted funeral service for fallen Allied troops so if anyone had such examples, feel free to share it here.

PZM

US pilots grave Kiska Island, Aleutians 1943

"Sleeping here, a brave air-hero who lost youth and happiness for his Mother land. July 25 - Nippon Army".

Thanks for the interesting info!

[Panzermahn]

Interesting! Was this before the Blitz period or after?