Kriegsgräberstätten

Kriegsgräberstätten are burial sites established for people who died in armed conflicts, including military personnel as well as civilian victims. They range from small battlefield graves and individual plots to large cemeteries with thousands of interments. The term is used in German-speaking contexts to describe such sites worldwide and those maintained by national and international organizations.

Many countries maintain dedicated institutions to care for war graves. In Germany, the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (VDK) supervises German graves at home and abroad. Internationally, organizations such as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the American Battle Monuments Commission, and equivalent bodies oversee graves belonging to their nationals. Grave sites may be designated as “concentration” cemeteries when scattered graves from a region are relocated to a central location.

Designs of Kriegsgräberstätten often feature uniform headstones with standardized inscriptions that include the deceased’s name, rank, unit, and date of death. Some graves show religious symbols or emblems. Many cemeteries also include chapels, memorial walls, gardens, and visitor centers. Maintenance, landscaping, and access are typically regulated to ensure the sites remain as places of remembrance and education.

Cultural and commemorative significance is central to these sites. They are honored during national remembrance days and public ceremonies, and they serve as educational resources about the impacts of war. As cultural heritage, Kriegsgräberstätten contribute to memory, reconciliation, and reflection on human loss across generations.