Berlin 1939-1945 Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
Encyclopedia
The Berlin 1939-1945 Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery is one of two Commonwealth
cemeteries in Berlin
, the other being the World War I
Berlin South-Western Cemetery in Stahnsdorf
, Brandenburg
. The Berlin 1939-1945 Commonwealth Cemetery was established in 1945 as a central burial ground for aircrew
and prisoners of war who were interred in the Berlin area and in East Germany. There are also 260 burials from the post-war British Occupation Authorities staff, or their relatives. Of the wartime burials, about 80% are aircrew, killed in action over Germany: the remainder are prisoners of war.
, although this never came to pass. The soldiers buried there were transferred to the new Heerstrasse site.
The new cemetery was constructed according to plans by Philip Dalton Hepworth on an approximately 3.8 hectare site. The arrangement reflected that of other British war cemeteries, in particular the uniform headstones of Portland stone
, the Cross of Sacrifice
and centrally-placed Stone of Remembrance
with inscription (Their name liveth for evermore), and short-cut lawns. The entrance is formed of three limestone
arches with wrought iron
gates.
As with the other British war cemeteries in Germany, the cemetery at Heerstrasse is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
. The majority of those interred there were members of the Royal Air Force
who fell during attacks on Berlin, alongside British soldiers who died in captivity in Germany and some civilian members of the post-1945 British occupation forces. As well as Britons, there are soldiers from other Commonwealth realms, soldiers of unknown nationalities and five Poles. In total there are 3,576 graves in the cemetery. The cemetery itself lies under the protection of the British Crown, and in this sense belongs to the territory of the United Kingdom.
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
cemeteries in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, the other being the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Berlin South-Western Cemetery in Stahnsdorf
Stahnsdorf
Stahnsdorf is a municipality in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, in Brandenburg, Germany.-Geography:It is situated 20 km southwest of Berlin , and 12 km east of Potsdam.-History:...
, Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
. The Berlin 1939-1945 Commonwealth Cemetery was established in 1945 as a central burial ground for aircrew
Aircrew
Aircrew are the personnel who operate an aircraft while in flight. The composition of the crew depends on the type of aircraft as well as the purpose of the flight.-Civilian:*Aviator** Pilot-in-command** First officer** Second officer** Third officer...
and prisoners of war who were interred in the Berlin area and in East Germany. There are also 260 burials from the post-war British Occupation Authorities staff, or their relatives. Of the wartime burials, about 80% are aircrew, killed in action over Germany: the remainder are prisoners of war.
History
The British War Cemetery, Heerstrasse, was constructed between 1955 and 1957 to replace the previous cemetery at the Trakehner Allee, which had to be demolished in 1959. The former site was intended to be used for the erection of a television towerRadio masts and towers
Radio masts and towers are, typically, tall structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. They are among the tallest man-made structures...
, although this never came to pass. The soldiers buried there were transferred to the new Heerstrasse site.
The new cemetery was constructed according to plans by Philip Dalton Hepworth on an approximately 3.8 hectare site. The arrangement reflected that of other British war cemeteries, in particular the uniform headstones of Portland stone
Portland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
, the Cross of Sacrifice
Cross of Sacrifice
The Cross of Sacrifice was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission and is usually present in Commonwealth war cemeteries containing 40 or more graves. It is normally a freestanding four point limestone Latin cross in one of three sizes ranging in height from 18 to...
and centrally-placed Stone of Remembrance
Stone of Remembrance
The Stone of Remembrance was designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for the Imperial War Graves Commission . It was designed to commemorate the dead of World War I, to be used in IWGC war cemeteries containing 1000 or more graves, or at memorial sites commemorating more than 1000 war...
with inscription (Their name liveth for evermore), and short-cut lawns. The entrance is formed of three limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
arches with wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
gates.
As with the other British war cemeteries in Germany, the cemetery at Heerstrasse is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
. The majority of those interred there were members of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
who fell during attacks on Berlin, alongside British soldiers who died in captivity in Germany and some civilian members of the post-1945 British occupation forces. As well as Britons, there are soldiers from other Commonwealth realms, soldiers of unknown nationalities and five Poles. In total there are 3,576 graves in the cemetery. The cemetery itself lies under the protection of the British Crown, and in this sense belongs to the territory of the United Kingdom.