Just an impression....

edwin

edwin

Active member
I just got back from a one week holiday in which we visited Messines ridge as well as the German cemetary in Menen on a lovely day in the spring. h

Below are some pics of the German cemetary in Menen, which contains the remains of nearly 50.000 soldiers. Most soldiers are buried in small mass graves, containing about 20 each. This is in sharp contrast to commonwealth cemetaries where most soldiers have individual graves.





 
A few more....



After nearly 100 years someone still cares for a relative buried here as indicated by the recently planted flowers.



Located at the edges of the cemetary are some remarkable headstones such as this one of a pilot (flugzeugführer).

The sheer size of this cemetary, with nearly 50.000 buried soldiers, makes it very impressive and emphasizes the stupidity of war.
In fact, its the largest German cemetery of ww1 in Europe. Personally, however, I prefer the German cemetary at Vladslo which contains the remains of about 26.000 soldiers because of its more sober atmosphere, which is in part realized by the grieving parents by Käthe Kollwitz.

 
And lone tree cemetery...



I would like to thank Francis and Pierre for suggestions.

Best regards,

Edwin
 
In Flanders Fields...Thank you for sharing ! Impressive !
I never was in Menen. Good idea.
October 1th 2012: I retire after 32 years in the Army (Triple A) :-? ...
Lot's of things to visit in the years to come.
Oh yes: In June this year the completely renewed "In Flanders Fields Museum" in Ieper (Ypres) will open again.
Rgds,
Francis
 
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