German Military Cemetery

Visitors to Commonwealth Cemeteries in Belgium will always note the inscription that the land has been donated in perpetuity, in remembrance of the sacrifice to save Belgium.

The situation for the quarter of a million German dead from the battles in West Flanders is somewhat different. Originally the Soldatenfriedhofs were as numerous on the ground as Britain's. However the territory was rented and initially for only 30 years.

After the Second World War an agreement was reached between the two governments and Belgium allowed four cemeteries which would act as concentration cemeteries. This land has also been given on a permanent basis.

This cemetery is sited about 3 kilometres north east of the village of Vladslo. It is quite well signposted along the N363 from Beerst.

Created during the war this cemetery originally held the remains of 3,233 German soldiers, however in 1956 a number of smaller cemeteries were concentrated into Vladslo and it now marks the resting place of 25,644 soldiers.

The old wooden crosses have been replaced by blocks of Belgian granite each inscribed with up to twenty names.

There are however along the edges of the cemetery a number of original headstones.

The Kollwitz Statues

These two figures mourn over their sons and one in particular. Peter Kollwitz was a Musketier when he was killed on 23 October 1914 during an assault at Dixmude. Until the concentration of the cemeteries he had lain in the Cemetery at Eesen Roggeveld.

His mother, Kaethe Kollwitz, a noted sculptress wanted to give some form of expression to her grief and in 1932 these two statues were placed in the Cemetery at Eesen Roggeveld. As time went by the symbolisation of one pair of parents became more symbolic of all parents grieving over a lost child.

When Peter's grave was moved to Vladslo the statues were brought with him. His grave is just in front of them.

The other three Soldatenfriedhof are situated at:

Langemark
Menen
Hooglede