Am Reichswald bei Kleve entstand der flächenmäßig größte britische Soldatenfriedhof unter den 15 in Deutschland liegenden Sammelfriedhöfen, mit insgesamt 7.654 Gräbern. Rechter Hand des Eingangs sind annähernd 4000 Besatzungsmitglieder von Kampfflugzeugen, unter ihnen 706 Kanadier, bestattet. Linker Hand weitere Soldaten, die bereits in den Jahren 1940–1944 im Luftkrieg den Tod fanden. Daneben sind viele Männer bestattet, die den Tod bei den Endgefechten im Rheinland, bei der Rheinquerung und bei der Schlacht im Reichswald vom 8. bis 13. Februar 1945 fanden.
Quelle: wikipedia.org
HISTORY INFORMATION
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery was created after the Second World War when burials were brought in from all over western Germany and is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the country.
Some of those members of the land forces buried there died in the advance through Reichswald Forest in February 1945. Others died crossing the Rhine, among them members of the airborne forces whose bodies were brought from Hamminkeln, where landings were made by the 6th Airborne Division from bases in England.
Some of the airmen buried in the cemetery lost their lives in supporting the advance into Germany, but most died earlier in the war in the intensive air attacks over Germany. Their graves were brought in from cemeteries and isolated sites in the surrounding area.
There are now 7,594 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 176 of the burials are unidentified. There are also 78 war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish.
Special Memorials to 9 airmen are located at the East boundary wall, near Plot 10. Further Special Memorials to 7 airmen are located within Plot 31, near the Cross of Sacrifice. The cemetery was designed by Philip Hepworth.
Quelle: cwgc.org
Musik: musicfox.com
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