Reburial of a Million German WWII Soldiers
Wednesday January 9, 2008
When German soldiers died during World War II battles in Eastern Europe, such as at Stalingrad and Kursk, they were often buried in mass graves. Now, approximately one million German WWII soldiers are being dug up and reburied in official German war cemeteries. Although 520,000 skeletons have already been exhumed, the project continues to be plagued by controversy. Many worry that these new German war cemeteries will glorify the Nazi past while others worry that Nazi war criminals will be honored. The project is expected to take at least another eight years.
Comments
Τhis did not become for the Jews that burial in common graves
This is good news and overdue respect to the dead.T
The German soldier was a German first why link him with Nazism selectively?You dont link an American soldier with Republicans or Democrats Why not then?
Let us honor the dead, heal the wounded and take steps to stop all war forever which usually starts with understanding and forgiveness.
….as a vet, I have no respect for enemy dead…let them rot
….as in most wars,these soldiers were SENT there by their leaders……not too many had a choice then as they do now….
These soldiers deserve to be buried together in their fatherland! RIP.
I find it repulsive that Germany wishes to honour these dead as visitable memorials. For most of the Six Million Jews murdered by the end of WWII, there is no proper burial. They were dumped in common pits, as were thousands of murdered Roma and huge numbers of Slavic peoples, all victims of nazi genocidal ideology.
(Perhaps the Russians wanted to be rid of the dead nazi pollution!)
War is all about killing! People make money on killing others. Sad but true.
Most of the soldiers who fought for Germany during WW2 were like any other soldier fighting for their country. They were not the elite SS who were just plain murderers. There is a difference. Our “friends” the Soviets were also very cruel for the most part. The average German soldier would rather have been a POW under the control of the American forces than to be a prisoner of the Soviets. I can only guess that many of those Germans buried in Russia were tortured before they died. Evil deeds are all the same no matter who commits them. Give the German soldiers a proper burial. The SS troopers should never be honored in any way, shape, or form.
The Germans were enthusiastic fighting for their motherland, just like the British or Americans or whatever nationality that was involved that time, and they deserve to be respected for that, and I agree with Kathleen that SS troopers should never be honored.
anyone who cannot distunguish between a nazi and a conscripted german soldier is in dire need of reviewing 20th century history. the author should have either clarified this or not mentioned that “some” object to respecting the dead.
They were all for the most part just kids really – caught up in the war/death machine of the era. They had no choice at all but to go fight, kill or be killed. Give them ALL a decent burial and some honor.
I think it is a good idea to leave the dead at rest, although it would probably give the families of the lost or missing a chance a closure…
My Father was six years old when his own Father died on the eastern front. It’s time my Dad had some closure…
These German kids were conscriped like so many others and just followed orders. Having been in the army myself I realise just how brutal things get … the least we can do is to permit a dignified burial. Politics aside, these were young scared men from little villages for the most part … not ranting Nazis who were mostly safe behind the lines. We lost in Vietnam and they see us as the bad guys but we still seek to retun our dead and feel it is fair ! So why the difference between wars. Maybe we should move on and remember all war dead …
Ja, I support Herr Reichmann’s sentiments. Futhermore, only elements of the SS were part of the execution squads. Most SS troops were elite field and panzer units and engaged enemy combat units … perhaps their believe in the idiology made them fight harder but not each division slaughtered innocents.
What then of Bommber Harris and his order to wipe Dresden from the map knowing the lack of militaty targets and the influx of refugees … add as well the order to focus on using incinary bombs and I can only believe he wanted to kill the civilians by fire ! So here we won’t honour SS dead but a man the orders the murder of tens of thousands of woman , children and the elderly gets a statue in England. If you kill a killer, are you now not the same ! In the news today there were complaints about the attacks from Israel being too strong in the face of the few rockets fired from the Palastinians … why not the same concern when USA and England bombed German cities vastly out of propotion to the short Blitz England endured in 1941 !
Ultimately, its sad that the victor gets to justify the same actions he dcries his enemy for doing. Will the WW11 German dead ever be granted peace … perhaps its time as a society to open our hearts and minds to forgiveness. Someone started the war, someone ended it and inbetween millions suffered … let’s stop this happening again !
As someone who lost male relatives fighting the German army during the Second World War, all I can say is that I am glad that as far as possible German war dead will be given a respectful burial in German war cemeteries. This will be good for the German fallen’s families. Those of my family that survived the fighting in the Second World War always maintained that the Germans were a tough but honourable enemy. They were young men, too, and they fought bravely.
People should read the Ancient Aryan philosophy war and duty spelt out in the Gita and we would be clear how this shapes civilisations. Brutality must not be forgiven but who is to judge from hind sight as to who was brutal amongst the defeated! Their dead need full honours even the SS other than those specifically identified by name for transgressing the rule of war. I am prepared to put a memorial for the honourable soldiers such as Otto Skorzeny and others .Those who laid down their lives fighting the Germans in similar way have in any case got their recognition.
I think that it is about time! The german soldier fought for each other in the end not Hitler
Meine Ehre Heisst Treue Kamaraden
To Maj Gen aps and those who think like him.
Germany started WW2 and is responsible for over 30 million deaths of mainly civilians..This was mainly done also with the full-hearted cooporation of the German Army.To claim that the ordinary German soldier was innocent is simply not true and hypocritical.
The bottom line is that Germany and its army are responsible for two world wars during 20th Century and millions of deaths.Trying to glorify this is historically wrong and false.The Million German soldiers killed should be left where there are at least for the sake of all the millions of civilians these soldiers murdered.
I am relating to (19)maj. gen.aps chauhan.
Otto Skoreszeni, though “liberating” Mussolini from the hands of the partisans, was personally involved in burning down Jewish Synagogues in Vienna in the famous “Kristallnacht” and fulfilled his duty “perfectly well”. He is burried in Vienna
I am glad they will finally be at rest in the fatherland.May god bless all german soliders and their families.
I agree with Kathleen. I am sure there are millitary records that proove who was the highest ranking commanders of the Nazi movement. These guys that made these terriable decisions to terminate a life do not deserve a honorable grave sight. Soilders are not able to make decissions they do what is ordered. I believe all the SS should be held accountable for these terrible war crimes. It is dispicable that people are capable of wiping out a race or tribe of people simply because they don’t like them or feel they are inferior to them. Hitler decided that the blond hair blue eyed people were the superior people. Who is he to make the decision of who is superior. We are all superior in the eyes of God. I would like to be a fly on the wall when Hitler has to go before God and account for all of his wrong doings. It shall be a great day for the Jews and the German people and all who were in someway touched by WWII. When this happens there will be closure for everyone who was affected by this terrible little man and war.
its long overdue,as with all soldiers ,few really know why ,they fight and die.all are Gods souls .my dad was army air corps[USA] my mom RAF [UK]and i expect more schwienings were german soldiers than anything ,I wish them all no ill will. AND maybe after all are taken care of properly maybe we will not chose war as our next answer to our next problem.marksmanship is gold
I am actually not into this war stuff (i am not blond either and i dont like cars and i dont like beers and i am never on time, so sorry for destroying all your “German” stereotypes LOL),
but my opinion on this is very simple:
Everybody who died, deserves a grave, honour and commemoration. Period.
Those guys had not been asked to whether they want to be maimed, killed, tortured or shot. Some of them might have been only 17 or 19 – children. Hitler would not even shriek back from dragging children into war (Volks Sturm), these are adults but an 18-year old adult is still somehow a child, and remember:
A mother weeps for her killed child just the same all over the world, and may i please quote Mrs. Sally Fields on TV at a nomination in the USA last year: “If we mothers ruled the world, there’d be no war in the first place”.
As both my grandfathers died due to their resistancework against the Germans, My grandmothers were incarcerated during the was too, I think I have a say in this. Not every soldier was very willing, some were situated near my grandparents house in a anti flak thing and knowing that my grandfather was in Dachau, my fathers was on a regular bases fed by the “regular soldiers” who knew of his situation. I think he actually survived the Hungerwinter of 1944/45 due to these soldiers. My father also thinks that it was due to the fact that they did not agree with the Nazi Policy and missed their own family desperatly. It might not be a monumental gesture, but I am glad that due to that small gesture my father survived the war!! Precious few regular soldiers were Nazi, because if they were, they were send to the Camps. If on the other hands, they could not handle the rules in the Camps, as a punishment they were send to Russia. Also if they {regular soldiers} aided and abetted the local population they were sent to the Russian Front. So you might well say that part of these dead soldiers were in their own way anti-Nazi’s instead of Nazi’s.
Most of them were just boys with much optimism who were sent to die a miserable death in a frozen steppe. They had mothers and sisters and were just as brave than any allied soldier.
We are all humans. Although the Germans killed innocent people we have to be the bigger person and the only way to find inner peace is understanding and Peace. If anyone enemy or not is willing to give up their own lie for their country I think they deserve respect and Honor. I know the last man alive from Hitle’s bunker and as bad as that sounds he is so loving and nice striving for peace. If he was older he would have been executed but his age saved him and he was so young when Hitler came into power that is ALL he knew as well as many young Germans.
We are all human beings and if conditions were differnt we could all have maybe been personal friends with Germans. The ONLY way to find inner peace is understanding and peace. I also know the last person alive from Hitler’s bunker. He is really nice and triving for peace. The only reason he served his fuhrer was because he came to power when he was little and that is ALL he knwew was how brilliant he was so he became a victim also. If he was older when the russians came he would have been executed and NOBODY deserves execution. If someone is willing to die for their country I believe they deserve to be honored and reconized for that and not that they were the enemy…Yes I am 13 years old.
The Nazi party only had approx 500000 registered paty memebers. not all Germans were nazi rather they were soldiers fighting for thier country and families
this lady doesnt know what she is talking about. you should really think before you speak and not offend anyone. those german soldiers were fighting for their country just as any other soldier throughout history. they
thought that what they were doing was right,
just as any other country. in those times it was obey orders or be shot yourself. also, not all germans were nazis , just as my grandfather was a regular whermacht officer doing his duty for his country. he survived the war by the way. they deserve to be buried with honors like any other soldier. how dare you.
Be it that they was German Italian Romanian spanish or whoever they are war dead and paid the price for the will of there political masters and did the uptmost of their duty that any combatant of the time could have done they paid the price of death for what they believed in and it is us that are free today should be thankful for so remember the glorious Dead and honour them for they gave what was their day for our tomorrow what ever that may have brought and to all who hoped was peace so peace is what sleeping dogs of war should do sleep and lay the past to rest and if that means to cleanse the earth of once enemies remains does just that then that is down to the victors as they bore the wrath of the invaders in the 1st place it is their land and they do with it as they please but I am sure it will be done with honour and dignity as we have moved on over the last 50 to 60 yrs and I expect they would want the same honour and respect for their fallen countrymen etc so it may sound crude but it is a humane way to hopefully heal old memories of long ago past enemies who lost many comrades who will never come home but by example the peace will allways remain otherwise so many died in vain.
My great grandfather and great uncle were killed fighting on the Eastern front. By all acounts they were not fighting at all but froze to death.
I have photos of my grandfather with his younger brother and older brother proudly wearing their uniforms – The older one who later died was in his army kit and the younger brothers in their Hitler Youth uniforms. My 12-year-old son hit the nail on the head when he said that Adolf Hitler had everything so well organised. Those boys had no choice but to fight for their country and they were made to believe it was the right thing to do. My grandfather went on to join the Waffen SS and was moved to a Panzer division. It turned him into a sadistic, evil horrendous monster.
The war did terrible things to normal people, even those who lived in this country! The war ended a long time ago, and I wonder how many of us posting here were even alive at that time? Move on……
They should be respected, nothing is ever said about the millions of German P.O.W.’sthat vanished in Russia. All you here about is the poor Jews. BOO HOO
The Paratroopers have always had the ‘Brothers under silk’ moto I know of several ex german WW2 paratroopers welcome in our reunion meetings , what happens in battle stays on the battlefield when peace is declared let that be so ‘Peace’ all fallen should be honored except the named war criminals.
Having lost 2 uncles in the 2nd WW, they died on the Russian front, I am grateful for the effort taken to bring them home to be buried and memorialized. They were both very young men who had no choice but to go to war. My grandfather died of a broken heart I believe due to losing both his boys.
all those who condemn the german soldiers for fighting for an evil regime and hence be declined a decent burial have a a deranged and myopic outlook.There was no regime more vicious than Stalin’s and it is an abysmal irony of politics it’s fervent supporters were the british and the american governments during ww2.Goering was right before being hanged he said to the americans “thanks to you we could not sort out the soviets but i wish to see the day you have to do it”. The german soldiers did a great service to the brits and the yanks.After 30 m1llion dead, a devastated country soviet russia was in position for another war
Germany is welcome to do what it likes with its dead of course.
Apart from that I have little sympathy for the soldiers “doing their duty”. How can a german soldier under Hitler be compared to any other soldier? There is a difference between being the invaders or defenders, not too difficult to grasp eh?
Sorry “Grandson,” your granddaddy fought on the wrong side , hardly anyone else’s fault he did not grasp that ! Stop your “how dare you” kid, sounds pathetic and hollow.
My family were in the resistance. They knew they were on the right side and were true courageous heroes risking their lives which would have been over had someone like your granddaddy uncovered them.He was the coward boy, fighting for evil without question.ok? Accept it and keep your peace.
Hitler could never have achieved what he did without all the soldiers “not daring to oppose orders”.BS, if they didn’t like it why be so rough and cruel when they needed not be.??Some were not but eye- witnesses agree they were in the minority.
But in fairness,Germans also had their heroes and these are to be exalted above the cowards always.
Dresden was awful no doubt about it but blame Hitler for it not the allies ! Germany started bombing European cities ,and the war costing millions of lives, for what??!!! but you don’t like a taste of your own medicine do you Germans?
Get over it as we all had to, you lost thank God !
All is forgiven, mercifully you have been accepted again into the human race long ago,(and I live next door to your country without malice never blaming the younger generation for the sins of their fathers and grandfathers) but please please stop whining!!
Just saw your comments Bonny.
I will admit by the way the poor German kids trapped in the Hitler youth movement were not to blame as they were brainwashed to be evil early on and knew no better, but the rest?
Forgive us,Bonny we were wrong and should have been grateful to Hitler and his killing machine??!
Oh silly billy allies they were fighting the wrong baddy ! Fancy that, it was the Nazi’s who were feared and hated!!
You don’t think it could have been due to the fact that Hitler not Stalin had bombed to smitherines and/or invaded peaceful neighbouring countries, dragged away the Jewish citizens,and other “undesirables” looted, beat, tortured and starved , do you? Oh yes it was all dirty politics but , one baddy at a time, mon cherie.!
God give us strength- speaking of deranged !
These remains need to be moved and organized. All soldiers, regardless of nationality, deserve a proper burial and proper respects.
Some of the comments on this subject foiling my and many others’ opinions are blasphemy and seem outrageous.
BTW, it is incorrect to state Germany was responsible for the Great War. In my own humble opinion, I also believe the Second World War began before the German-Russian-Slovakian invasion of Poland in September 1939.
I am very proud of our troops and at that time what tey stood for ..Germany. They are like any other troops ordered into combat and died for their country ,just like yours did.Their is no difference dying is dying no matter the uniform. May they all rest in peace and GOD bless them all.I pray for my commrades each day!
Say what you will about them. There is no doubt. They where the best soldiers the world has ever seen.