Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Does anyone have the names of Luftwaffe aircrew buried in the U.K. outside of Cannock Chase, in other words, who are still buried in their original graves - or is there a website with this information?

Once I've got the names, I can use the German war graves website to find the location. I know that 'The Blitz, then & now' & 'The Battle of Britain then & now' (both of which I have) have information on some of the Luftwaffe aircrew not buried at Cannock Chase.

I know that Maidstone (15), Margate (18), Deal (3), Hawkinge, Chichester and Brookwood have Luftwaffe burials, but there must be others.

The reason that I ask is that over the summer I would like to visit the graves of as many of those Luftwaffe aircrew still buried in the south east U.K. as I can.

Geoff.

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Hi Geoff.
You like me are a member of the Battle of Britain Society and as you know we now have almost all our RAF Battle of Britain graves tended by the members.
Your question has hit on what i have been thinking for some time now, that we should perhaps look to also offering the same care to Luftwaffe Graves from the Battle of Britain period and compiling a list of non Cannock Chase German graves.
I have posted this question on the Battle of Britain Society board...but what are your thoughts?

I visited RAF Scampton a few months back and in the church yard, their are several Luftwaffe graves along with many RAF bomber command graves. All the Luftwaffe are Night Fighter crews shot down in the region, all perfectly tended and along with our men they all had a single poppy on each grave.

Regards
Jon

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Hi Jon,

Apart from being a member of the BoBHS, I'm also a volunteer with The Shoreham Aircraft Museum (near Sevenoaks, Kent). There we honour the RAF and Luftwaffe aircrews equally.

I certainly have no problem with the society also looking after Luftwaffe graves from the Battle of Britain period, although I would imagine that there is less need for this than with the RAF aircrew's graves. The former will all be within CWGC plots, and/or looked after by the CWGC, the latter are often buried in private graves, which are not looked after by the CWGC, and therefore do require someone to look after them if the family can no longer do so.

By the way, our museum opens for the 2005 season on Easter Sunday (27th March) and will then be open every Sunday, 10am to 5pm, until the end of September. See our website at www.shoreham-aircraft-museum.co.uk.

Geoff.

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Hi Geoff,

There are a number of German graves in the CWGC part of Dyce Old Churchyard near Aberdeen (not very near SE UK I know!). When I spoke to the local Registrar of Deaths for that area some time ago he indicated that many of the Germans who were originally buried here in the UK were reburied in Germany after the war. I didn't follow that up so I'm not sure how accurate that would be.

I would imagine that the CWGC are responsible for the care and maintenance of graves in the cemeteries that you mentioned, and certainly the ones at Dyce Old Churchyard are in a special area that contains only CWGC graves. Perhaps you could send them an e-mail and ask if they have the info to hand?

Regards
Linzee

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Geoff, in addition to my post above.

Some 'Googling' produced very interesting results. Try typing "German wargraves in UK" into a search engine such as 'Google'.

It would appear that the info I was given by the Register of Deaths re Germans being returned to Germany after the war was slightly off the mark. What appears to have happend is that in the 1960's the German authorities decided that all German graves in the UK were to be concentrated at one site, Cannock Chase. They chose Cannock Chase because of its similarity to Lüneburg Heath on the North German Plain.

Cheers
Linzee

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

one grave of note at Hawkinge, since there are few Knights Cross holders buried in the UK
..Hauptmann Hans Karl Mayer, Gruppenkommandeur (JG53) ..posted missing on 17 October 1940 over the Channel...body washed up at Folkestone on 27 October 1940...you can still view the original entry in the Register of Deaths..(with incorrectly spelt surname..)

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

If you joing the airforcedeaths yahoo group you can get access to a series of files that relate to non Commonwealth deaths where the gravesite is cared for by the CWGC

You will have to join Yahoo groups first

e,.g (small sample) from the German list (also
American
Belgian
Danish
Dutch
French
Greek
Israeli
Italian
Philippino
Swiss
Turkish
Yugoslav

Small sample


12.8.40 55565-14 Fritz Budig. Gosport (Ann’s Hill) Cemetery, Hampshire. Plot 188 Grave 32.

12.8.40 60014-3 Friedrich Butterwick. Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent, England. Plot O Grave 15.


See:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/airforcedeaths

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Thanks to all who have replied, especially Paul.

The Yahoo group sounds exactly what I'm looking for. My application to join has been sent off, though I had a little trouble getting my reason to join under 200 characters. I'll just have to hope my application is approved.

Geoff.

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Geoff,

A couple of pieces of information concerning Luftwaffe burials in the UK. Liensberger, Gr, Kdr. of V.(Z)/LG 1 was exhumed post-war and re-interred in the family plot in Austria. Secondly, one Erpr. Gr. 210 pilot is still buried in a field.

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Hi All,

A complete list of all German Nationals buried in CWGC plots in various Cemeteries and Churchyards in the UK is available from the CWGC, (I have a copy) the only problem with it is that some airmen are listed as soldiers, and vice versa, it is 153 pages long, if I can be be of any help, just ask.
Regards
Joe

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Thanks John & Joe,

The list from the CWGC sounds interesting. I'll see how the Yahoo group works out first, but I may follow it up later.

John, will we be seeing you down at Shoreham this year??

Geoff.

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Geoff,

Yes, but only if the wife gives me a day pass, and the Squirrel lets me in!

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Paul M & Simon P, can you check your PMs please.

Geoff.

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Here is a list of Luftwaffe burial locations, other than Cannock Chase.

Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery 9.
Beachley Military Cemetery 5.
Blandford Cemetery 6.
Brandesburton Churchyard 13.
Bridgwater Cemetery 2.
Brighton Cemetery 14.
Bristol Cemetery 12.
Brookwood Cemetery 29.
Burton-upon-Trent Cemetery 1.
Cannock Chase WAR Cemetery 11.
Carlisle Cemetery 3.
Chevington Cemetery 17.
Chichester Cemetery 2.
Deal Cemetery 3.
Derby Cemetery 1.
Dyce Old Churchyard 10.
Exeter Higher Cemetery 26.
Felixstowe Cemetery 4.
Folkestone New Cemetery 53. Two awaiting named gravestones.
Fradley Churchyard 1.
Glasgow (Cardonald) Cemetery 2.
Gosport (Ann's Hill) Cemetery 11.
Great Birchham Churchyard 11.
Grimsby Cemetery 7.
Hitchin Cemetery 2.
Honington Cemetery 5.
Hull Northern Cemetery 9. Two awaiting named gravestones.
Hylton Cemetery 10. One awaiting named gravestone.
Kirkwall Cemetery 2.
Lenham Cemetery 1.
Littlehampton Cemetery 12.
Lossiemouth Burial Ground 8.
Loughbrough Cemetery 5.
Lowestoft Cemetery 8.
Lyness Cemetery 1. +Two unnamed.
Maidstone Cemetery 12.
Margate Cemetery 15.
Marham Cemetery 5.
North Coates (Cotes) CHYD 3.
Norwich Cemetery 6.
Nuneaton Cemetery 8.
Penzance Cemetery 1.
Portland RN Cemetery 12.
Ramsgate Cemetery 7.
Saffron Walden Cemetery 7.
Scampton Churchyard 8.
Scopwick Churchyard 4.
Scottow Cemetery 7.
Selsey CHYD 1.
Shaftesbury Cemetery 1.
Shrewsbury Cemetery 2.
Southampton Cemetery 3.

St Columb Major Cemetery 1.
Stafford Cemetery 4.
Sutton Bridge CHYD 1.
Tangmere CHYD 11.
Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery 28. One awaiting named gravestone.
Tonbridge Cemetery 6.
Troqueer Burial Ground 2.
Wareham Cemetery 10.
West Thorney CHYD 21.
Weymouth Crematorium 1. Cremated
Weston-Super-Mare Cemetery 5.
Whitstable Cemetery 2.
In a unmarked grave that were overlooked when the other nine were moved to Cannock Chase on 29.10.1962.

I have all the names.

Hope this is of some help.
Joe.

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Thanks Joe.

Looking at your list, it matches up quite well with the list I downloaded from the Yahoo group. There are a few locations where the figures differ, but the Yahoo list is not a complete one, plus it does include a few WW 1 burials probably not included on your list.

Geoff.

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Hi Joe,

I am doing a lot of research at the moment into the Air War over Europe in WW2 and such a list would be of immense use.

Can you please tell me who i need to contact at the CWGC to obtain a copy.

Many thanks

Duncan Langton

Re: Luftwaffe burials in the U.K.
 

Hi Joe,
You may be my life saver,Ha, Ha as i have been looking for a list of pilots,
I would certainly like a list of all their names,but how could i receive it from you.I am still waiting my registration to be OK'd. So i can't do much in the way of posting anything.
I would like you to contact me at:- shipsoffice@hmscavalier.org.uk

if at all possible.

many thanks

Ron H Rymer