Hamburg Cemetery

The Hamburg Cemetery is a war cemetery with 676 soldiers ' graves from the First World War and 1889 soldiers' graves from the Second World War , which was established and is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). The military cemetery is a specially designated burial area within the main cemetery Ohlsdorf in Hamburg .

World War I graves

During the First World War , part of the main cemetery in Ohlsdorf was used as a burial site for over 300 Allied soldiers who died in captivity . In 1923 the CWGC had decided to build four central memorials or military cemeteries for all victims and fallen of the Commonwealth ; one of these main cemeteries was established in Hamburg at the Ohlsdorf cemetery.

Later, from 120 provisional military cemeteries in Schleswig-Holstein , Mecklenburg , Oldenburg , Hanover and Braunschweig , Saxony and Westphalia , the fallen and dead were buried in the new military cemetery.

A total of 708 deceased or fallen soldiers of the First World War were buried or mentioned on plaques of honor. The deceased prisoners of war from Parchim in particular are commemorated here by plaques whose graves could not be found. Another honor goes to the 25 - unidentified - members of the Navy who sank in a submarine off Heligoland in 1916 . The Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge names 676 buried Commonwealth soldiers from the First World War. A list of the names of the British soldiers who died in World War I is available.

World War II graves

Polish soldier's grave.

After the Second World War , 1,466 Commonwealth soldiers were buried. They belonged to the aircrews whose planes were shot down or they were used as occupation forces. Another 378 Commonwealth funerals followed a few years later. 14 graves were built for soldiers of other nationalities . The Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge names 1,889 Commonwealth soldiers buried from the Second World War. A list of the names of the British soldiers who died in World War II is available.

layout

The construction and planting on this military cemetery follows the provisions of the CWGC, which are uniform on all war cemeteries. The view into the complex allows a wide view over the rows of graves and is closed off in the background by a hall of honor. The facility was designed by Robert Lorimer .

In the visual axis , the large cross with attached crusader sword (Cross of Sacrifice) stands out clearly, followed by the altar stone (Stone of Remembrance) with the inscription "Their Name Liveth For Evermore".

The grave stones , made of white sand-lime brick , are uniformly labeled with the emblem of the buried person's military unit, the day of his death, religious affiliation (if known), name and rank and, if necessary, a memorial verse from relatives.

The green area is planted with a lawn throughout , the small gravestone beds are mostly decorated with half-height rose bushes. Only a few trees loosen up the symmetrical rows of tombstones and parts of the building.

There is a visitor's book in one of the “guard houses”.