Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery
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Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Cannock Chase
The care of German military dead is the responsibility of the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German War Graves Commission) but this cemetery at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Most of the graves were transferred here from plots around the country in the early 1960s, the location apparently chosen because the Cannock Chase is reminiscent of the forested parts of Germany. There are nearly 5,000 graves here, two fifths from WWI the rest from WWII. The men died in Britain, either in combat or in prisoner of war camps.
Below; The layout of the cemetery has the graves from WWI on the left, and the graves from WWII on the right in this view. The rows of graves were positioned among the trees which already existed.
The crews of 4 Zeppelins (SL11, L32, L31 and L48) are commemorated here, with the names of the crew members on 4 graves below the wall.
Below; entrance to the cemetery
Below; the graves of the crew of a bomber which crashed on the Staffordshire moors. See this photo for details of that crash.
Founded by Dr. Siegfried Emmo Eulen, the VDK has existed since the end of the First World War. Only about one in ten dead German soldiers were buried in Germany, thus necessitating the creation of cemeteries. The logo of the organisation – a tall cross surrounded by smaller crosses – was created in 1926 and has existed ever since, except during the Nazi era when Hitler changed the ethos of remembrance to one of hero worship. Germany’s military dead are remembered on Volkstrauertag (the people’s memorial day) which is on the second Sunday before Advent.
The Volksbund is now a foundation for remembrance and peace.
German War Graves Commission (English)
There are cemeteries worldwide but those in former Soviet territory were more difficult to establish because the graves have been lost, built on, destroyed or simply not recorded. Some resentment against Germany extended to a small demonstration as late as 2000 when the Sologubovka Cemetery was created, the cemetery containing the graves of 30,000 Germans killed during the siege of Leningrad.
Close by the Cannock Chase cemetery is one of the few purpose built dedicated CWGC cemeteries in the UK (most CWGC graves in Britain are in individual cemeteries and churchyards). 286 Germans who died at Brocton Internment camp are buried here along with a large number of New Zealanders. Many of them died during the flu pandemic of 1918 which killed millions of people globally.
Below; German graves at Cannock Chase CWGC
Below; Another German military cemetery, this is at La Cambe in Normandy. The tumulus contains nearly 300 bodies.
More photos added April 2015
Below; Photos from the nearby ‘Cannock Chase Katyn Memorial.’
As an American, I repect and honor the young Germans who fought for their country as did the Allied forces. Thanks to Cannock Chase for showing the same respect and honor.
They were somebody’s sons,husbands and brothers.
I was a young kid during WW2, living on Constantine street in Greenacres, Oldham. The POW camp was no more than quarter mile away. I remember that 6 Germans died and were buried in Greenacres cemetery during the early part of the war. We then moved to another part of Oldham. When I returned many years later, I went to look for the prisoners graves, but they were nowhere to be found.
They were probably moved to the German Military Cemetery at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. I believe all were moved under arrangement between the German War Graves Commission and the British Government in the 1960s and are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.