Hamburg Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

Hamburg Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery is a war cemetery which was built and is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). The war graves of 676 soldiers from World War I and 1889 from World War II are located near Chapel 12 (German: Kapelle 12) in the greater Ohlsdorf Cemetery in the Ohlsdorf quarter of Hamburg.

Graves of World War I
During World War I a part of Ohlsdorf cemetery was reserved to bury more than 300 soldiers of the Allied Forces who died as prisoners of war. The CWGC decided in 1923 to build four central war cemeteries for all soldiers of the Commonwealth nations killed in action and the other victims of war. One, Friedhof Ohlsdorf (Ohlsdorf Cemetery) in Hamburg, incorporates from then on the Hamburg Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery.

Later on those killed in action as well as the other dead persons were transferred from 120 provisional war cemeteries in Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, Hannover and Braunschweig, Sachsen and Westfalen to bury them on the new installed cemetery.

In total 708 killed or dead persons from World War I were buried here or mentioned on commemorative tables. Those prisoners of war who died in Parchim and whose graves could not be identified are mentioned here especially. Further are honoured 25 not identified marines, whose submarine sunk in 1916 in the neighbourhood of Helgoland. German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge) counts 676 buried Commonwealth soldiers of World War I.

Graves of World War II and postwar
After World War II 1466 soldiers of Commonwealth nations, who were Air Force crews shot down as well as part of occupying forces were buried here. Several years later further 378 persons from Commonwealth nations were buried. Also 14 soldiers from other nations found here their graves. German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge) counts 1889 buried Commonwealth soldiers of World War II. A list of names of the Commonwealth soldiers fallen in Second World War exists.

Grave stones and Gardening


Structure and plants on this war cemetery are in accordance with the CWGC rules. So all war cemeteries are held in similar in shape. Overviewing the cemetery the numerous rows of graves will be perceived. In the background a hall of remembrance sets a landmark. This cemetery was designed by Robert Lorimer.

In direct view on an axis lies the great Cross of Sacrifice, followed by the Stone of Remembrance with the inscription „Their Name Liveth For Evermore“.

The white calcium silicate grave stones show the emblem of the military unit, day of death, religious belief (if known), name and military rank and words of remembrance by the relatives.

The area is greened by shere garden lawn. In front of the individual crosses grow roses. Few trees produce an interruption to the formal symmetry of grave rows and building structures.

There is a visitors' book in one of the two pavilions.

List of Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries in Germany
Most of these graveyards are described in German Wikipedia.
 * Becklingen War Cemetery
 * Berlin 1939-1945 Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
 * Berlin South-Western Cemetery
 * Celle War Cemetery
 * Dürnbach War Cemetery
 * Hannover war Cemetery
 * Niederzwehren Cedmetery
 * Kiel War Cemetery
 * Südfriedhof (Cologne)
 * Münster Heath War Cemetery
 * Sage War Cemetery
 * Reichswald forest War Cemetery
 * Rheinberg War Cemetery
 * Worms (Hochheim Hill) Cemetery
 * Zehrensdorf Indian Cemetery
 * List of individual graves

Films

 * tegelsbarg: hamburg friedhof ohlsdorf commonwealth war graves on youtube.