It has been a long, troubled journey for the brittle bones and skull of
Obergefreiter Horst F, from the dusty frontline ditch where he was killed in
1945, via a Czech lavatory fittings factory to a military warehouse. Soon,
though, he and more than 4,000 German soldiers will be laid to rest:
Europe’s forgotten warriors, the corpses that no one wants to bury.
If the the luck of the German lance corporal holds, he will have not only a
priest but also a civil servant at his graveside; and if the German War
Graves Commission can trace the family in time, there may even be a distant
relative. But one thing is for sure: it will not be the funeral of a war
hero. More likely, the president of the war graves commission, Reinhard
Fuehrer, will say similar words to those he used a few years back when he
buried a thousand German Wehrmacht corpses in Krasnodar, southern Russia:
“We are here today to represent the German people that has learnt its lesson
from history and is now looking to the future.”
Unfinished business: that is the only way to describe the tens of thousands of
German corpses rotting in distant fields of Eastern Europe. There are
conflicting estimates over the number of German military war dead. German
historian Wolfram Wette calculates that about 5.3 million German soldiers
lost their lives in the Second World War.” Out of that number about 2.6
million were killed in the last phase between July 1944 and May 1945.” The
Red Army was moving up fast from the east, rushing for Berlin, eager to
establish a military presence in a huge swathe of Eastern Europe.
There was no time for the Germans to bury the dead as one defensive line after
another crumbled. And after the war there was no great incentive to dig
holes or to carve crosses for the remnants of an army that had been part of
Hitler’s oppressive machine. So their coal-scuttle helmets, mangled weapons
and badges were plundered by local teenagers and they were left to decay in
woods, under bracken or crunched up by digger trucks as they moved in to
build high rise blocks for the new communist societies.
“We are very relieved that agreement has been reached,” says Fritz Kirchmeier,
of the war graves commission. The small Czech town of Cheb –
custard-coloured Habsburgian buildings fringed by brothels and clip joints
for cross-border German tourists – has agreed to expand its graveyard to
take in the 4,300 bodies that have been on tour for the past 63 years. “We
can give names to 1,350 of them,” says Mr Kirchmeier, “and a decent resting
place.” Many German civilians must have been among the dead, killed by
vengeful Czechs as they tried to flee westwards away from the Russians. At
least 200 of the powdery skeletons were dug out of a mass grave hidden
underneath the sports field of the Czech town of Rovensko; immediately after
the war the local authorities had set up an internment camp for Sudeten
Germans there.
So, no, this is not a heroic moment, not even a historic reckoning. The bodies
started to be exhumed about ten years ago – the collapse of communism made
it possible; so did the need of local authorities for an influx of Western
cash. Cheb will receive several hundred thousand euros to enlarge its
graveyard and build an approach road to the church. The original plan of the
Germans was to bury their dead in a German evangelical church in Prague but
that proved too expensive. The church is listed and millions of euros would
have had to flow to make it acceptable for the bureaucracy. The fact is
Prague was not keen to take on four thousand dead Germans, especially as
some of the dead could have been members of the Waffen SS.
Sealed unceremonoiusly in black body bags, the remains of the Germans were
then deposited in a cheerless factory specialising in lavatory bowls and
bathroom fittings in Usti nad Labem, the Czech end of the Elbe river. There
was no lock on the door – and no telling whether any of the bags were
removed by looting locals. Eventually, the Germans got wind of the dismal
setting and pressed the Czechs to act. The Czech Army – now a Nato partner –
poured the remains into more dignified cardboard coffins, held together by
staples, and transferred them to a military barracks where they are at least
kept under guard.
“It may take a little time to complete the landscaping of the new cemetery but
it is a realistic aim to have everyone buried by the end of the year,” says
Mr Kirchmeier.
Across Eastern Europe there are German bodies held in a similar state of
limbo. The battle for Berlin, from mid-April to surrender at the beginning
of May 1945, claimed more than 400,000 German soldiers. Only a small
fraction of them were buried properly. The Germans blame the communist
authorities, in East Germany, Poland and elsewhere, who officially venerated
the heroic Soviet war dead with massive concrete monuments, but who were not
bothered by the fate of those who fought on the losing side.
But at least part of the blame rests with the Germans themselves who have been
ashamed for the best part of half a century about the ordinary German
soldier, unsure whether he was a hero or a criminal. “In the records of the
Wehrmacht the average Joe tends to exist only in anonymous form, a
statistic,” says Dr Wette, "the logs of military units generally
make no mention of enlisted men by name and the same applies to regimental
histories written after the war.” Barely 1 per cent of the holdings of the
German military archives in Freiburg deals with enlisted soldiers.
Little wonder that they have been ignored in death - they had already been
airbrushed out of history by the Germans themselves. There is no equivalent
to the tomb of the unknown soldier under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the
Cenotaph in London. Instead, villages put up small monuments to those who
died “in war and dictatorship, 1914-45” and sometimes the names of locals
are etched into the side. But more often than not families do not know where
their relatives died or where they now lie.
Thanks to the lobbying work and fundraising of the German War Graves
Commission there are now 20 German military cemeteries in Russia, still too
few to accomodate the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who died in epic
encounters like the Siege of Leningrad. Search teams still go out during the
summer. German soldiers, on active service or in reserve units, travel to
Russia and elsewhere to help.
Archaeology is about the search for lost civilisations. The search for German
remains is something else: an attempt to recover the memory of how savage
war can be and then put the memory to rest.
Military casualties
Army estimated 13,600,000 served; estimated 4,202,000 killed
Air force estimated 2,500,000 served; estimated 433,000 killed
Navy estimated 1,200,000 served; estimated 138,000 killed
Waffen SS estimated 900,000 served; estimated 314,000 killed
1,419,728 estimated number of German troops killed or wounded on the
Eastern Front
Source: Times research
i recommend to anyone interested to read "ordinary Germans and the holocoust". not all germans were nazis, but in all the documentories i have ever seen, i can remeber only 1 german soldier who said "we were the aggressors, we started it"
acknowlege your dead germany, but you were NEVER victims.
mary tallon, pickering, canada
My grandfather was a german Landser, he fought honestly and with honour for the fatherland, he didn`t do any war-crimes, so I`m proud of him.
Also his Kameraden weren`t bad. In school we learn that all german soldiers were devils, and we Germans shall be ashamed of ourselves...
Markus, München, Deutschland
Rest in Peace, alte Kameraden.
The world for which you fought is no more.
The day of which you dreamed is now forgotten.
Rest in Peace, alte Kameraden.
Rune Hammer, Memphis, USA
The German soldiers that fought in all fronts deserve exactly the same respect as any other soldier who fights under orders. They are as heroes and villains as the British, American, Russian and so many other soldiers in the conflict.
They deserve respect. And military honours in death.
Carlos Portugal, Cascais, Portugal
What a waste of such good men, on all sides. It certainly was the greatest tragedy of the 20th Century, that the West is still recovering from. An entire culture was almost lost in that stupid conflict (as well as its with its older brother, WWI). Europeans should never again fight each other!!
John, Akron, USA
a soldier is a soldier for aw that. rabbie burns it aint, but, true it is. these brave men should be honoured just like any other soldier doing their duty for their country.
jim alexander, glasgow, scotland
Thank God the majority of people commenting here are sympathetic to honor the memories of those who served their nation, REGARDLESS of the aggressive nature of its leadership. Sound familiar? We need to honor the brave. We need to emulate the brave.
Rechill, Prospect Park, PA, USA
After nearly 70 years the german war dead are still vilified and abused, why cant they have a burial with full millitary honours? After all their only fault was to be on the losing side. The victors always write the history. Germany has been punished enough! Think of the millions killed & expelled.
Matt, London, UK
As a Russian-American living in America I personally have no problems with burying these german soldiers with full honor.
My grandfather who fought against them on the eastern front told me they were brave soldiers and always told me to respect them.
Tom, New York, USA
It's unfair to criticiize Germans for being "ashamed". Who conditioned them? Who implemented the Morgantau plan and it's successor JCS1067 whereby anyone challenging the demonising propaganda would be forbidden employment along with other penalties including prosecution? Thus induced guilt.
John Mortl, London, UK
In WWI it was Britain and France who declared war on Germany, also in WWII. Too, in 1933 organized world Jewry declared war against Germany, and again in 1939 international Jewish bankers in New York and London bankrolled these two world wars. War criminals? Murderers?
Look in London and New York!
Walt Martin, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
" Represent the German people that has learnt its lesson from history and is now looking to the future.”
What future would that be? A future of eternally extorted wealth by a "chosen" few ? A nation that isn't even supposed to care about the replacement of its own people with Turks? What a future!
Joe, Chicago, USA
There's a spot by a tree on the old hwy to Berlin not too far from Poznan where everyone knows a German soldier is. His boots aren't w/ him 'cause someone needed it. Imagine the grand ceremony the unearthing of his bones would have were he American, English, or especially Jewish. But he's German.
paul, Stamford, USA
My father was in the Wehrmacht in Ukraine. In 1944 his CO shot himself which left him in charge. He ordered his unit to bugger off back to the Reich. He finished up in the West. After many attempts he managed to surrender to the' Amis' . Ten months in the POW camp was his worst time in the war.
Bushy, Ipswich, Australia
This the saddest chapters in human history. The fact that so little attention is given to the German people and their suffering is due to the lingering Allied propoganda labeling Germany as "evil". If the Allies were so "good" more should have been given to care for everyone AFTER the war was over
Andrew, Minneapolis, USA
The French, Americans and Soviets killed about 1.5 million German PoWs after the war, by neglect, exposure and starvation. The three government have never admitted their responsibility. The German government to this day colludes in the coverup.
James Bacque, Toronto, Canada
James Bacque, Toronto, Canada
Hmm, the Allies who signed the Geneva Conventions yet ordered to take no prisoners at Normandy. The Germans took no prisoners initally in Russia because the Russians didn't either. Russia did not sign the Geneva Conventions.
All together now class, Germans bad Allies good.
Mannstein, Cambridge, USA
A well written article
Morton, Praha, Czech Rep
Hating helps nothing. Not even the hater - it costs all. Soldiers work at the direction of the politico - any and all soldiers. Act so those that live are the beneficiaries of the treatment. Let the goal be one of healing for the sake of the living, the dead do not care.
Ray, Chandler, USA
Those whom condemn these young men whom served their country must be really wanting to look in the mirror at themselves. Conscription is Conscription. They died for their nation and deserve like every soldier a decent burial and memorial service. This Nazi Myth about all German Soldiers is just LIES
John Fitzgibbon, Munster, Ireland
The word 'conscription' is fundamental here. What was the alternative for germans if they didn't fight for Hitler or his regime!? Don't be naive in assuming Germany had at least 18.3 million willing murderers. Instead look to conscription, brain washing and ignorance. They deserve to be remebered.
Katie, The Wirral, England
You people need to read "A Terrible Revenge", the ethnic clensing of the Eastern European Germans, 1944 - 1950, by Alfred-Maurice de Zayas, about how countries invited Germans that knew how to farm, were later, killed/driven out only because they spoke german,
Bill, bastrop, tx, usa
No soldier should be blamed for carrying his duties.German soldiers are no different.They did what the mother country required them to do.I think they should have proper burrial.Aren't we civilised world?
Bruno Canada.
Bruno Clapci, Vancouver, Canada
Hating the Germans today for the crimes the dead hurts all Europeputs EU at a disadvantage vs. a vs. the world friend n foe n th future
4 Eur. to maintain its top spot, Germany its #1 powerhouse has to b allowed to shed its guilt so it can perform @ 100% n contribute correspondingly to Europe.
John Morales, harker heights, tx, USA
cont.
of course it was started by the germans with the killing of (german and jiddish speaking Eastern European jews but it turned back on them on quite an extensive scale ( out of 15- 20 million forced to go westwards, unknown number of deaths (1-5 million?)
GR, Liverpool, UK
Thank you for this fair article. In such an article it would have been appropriate to use the pre-1945 native German names for Cheb (Eger) and Usti nad labem (Ausig). I think what unites the German dead with all the others is that they were all victims of war.
Kearn Schemm, Arlington, VA. USA
Kearn Schemm, Arlington, Va, USA
We can never push the activities and consequences of dictoral, authoritarian and despotic inhuman leaders under the carpet. Civilisation will or can never learn what such entities do to humanity - their greed, murder and total disrespect for human life. They must be held acountable and prosecuted.
William Robert Cox, Port Elizabeth, Republic of South Africa
the german war graves commission is doing a great job given limited funding..in addition to the huge number of unaccounted dead german soldiers .................many more Civilians...of the former eastern part of germany ,sudeten and balkans...raped ,killed..and left to rot..
dave, melbourne, australia
Most people in Russia don't have a problem with fallen German soldiers being properly reburied. It's a proper thing to do, it's how it should be and it's high time too.
I think the page was finally turned when Schroeder came to Moscow on the 50th V-Day in 2005 -- the first German PM to do so.
Max Pronin, Moscow,
actually james of Jersey the Americans were behind many war crimes in the second world war . yes and whole villages were wiped out. Actually thousands in whole cities were wiped out, Dresden, Hamburg, Nagasaki,Hiroshima etc etc 600,000 German civilians died by being burnt or blasted to death
peter, devon, uk
Phil, in the Wirral,
Your commrnts more accurately describe the Japanese.
Archie, Thrapston, England
No army in modern times caused so much suffering to a civilian population as the German army did to civilian Russians during its occupation of Russia.*
No army in modern times neglected its prisoners of war as much as the German army neglected its Russian POW's*.
*Including the Japanese army.
Paul Gooch, Nottingham, UK
Moral equivalence is so true, american troops are really behaving the same as the Nazi army. They round whole villages up and burn them in Mosques, they have put into place systems and processes through which all Sunni's will be killed, they are actually secrately behind all the bombs and beheadings
james mawdsley, st lawrence, jersey
Itr is only the dictators...Hitler...Stalin..Saddam that deserve no honour when buried
mike, sudbury, canada
The worst feature of this story is how the modern German after 60 years of frankfurt school indoctrination, supported by the American continuing occupation of their country,with a puppet government in Berlin continues to hate its past and its ancestors. At least the Iraquis fight back against the US
peter, devon, uk
Timur, London,
I agree with you, but for the West the USSR was Russia. It's the fact. Even now anyone from the former USSR is called Russian. Western public ignorance is the blessing that Western goverments work hard to keep. Just watch a Hollywood movie or History Channel.
Oleg, Toronto, Canada
Whilst I'm certainly not a fan of Germans, I'm heartily sick of all these frankly nasty, sniping comments aimed at German war dead. For God's sake these are DEAD soldiers! Death has cleansed them of any crimes that some of these may have committed. They deserve a decent burial like anyone else.
Mark La Vardera, Reading, UK
Whilst its true that 'the winner gets to write history' (as the cliche goes) it doesnt automatically mean that that history is false. These soldiers were fighting (and butchering civilians) for one of the most despicable regimes the world has seen. This shouldnt be morally equivalanced away.
Alex, London,
"The rememberance of "other" groups will diminish the Jewish holocaust primarily targeted with the largest number of 6 million"
This is the most chauvinistic statement I have ever read. 6 million Jews were murdered, but another 60 million NON-JEWS (inc many civilians) were brutally killed in WW2.
Mark La Vardera, Reading, UK
jayil, london, uk
"How soldier's are viewed depend's on which side you are on. For example; western soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan will be viewed as *nazis* "
Maybe Jayil, but the vast majority of Afghans do not"
Jacob Cheval, Nottingham,
These were young men many just 17 or 18 years old fighting for their country in a battle against what they saw as a cruel system which was trying to take over all of Europe. In the end that cruel system took over half of Europe murdering 2 million and expelling 14 million germans. All honour to them
peter, devon, uk
Americans are unaware of history. The Russians sent my husband's grandfather to the gulags. Then Hitler's Nazis sent my husbands grandmother, aunt, uncle and other relatives to the concentration camps. After that, Stalin sent my relatives living in Russia to the gulags. Who's the worst monster?
Carla Wills-Brandon, Galveston Island, United States
Oleg, Toronto, that is not quite right - it was the Soviet Union and not Russia. Many nations fought at that time, event the biased (racist?) Russian tect books speak of 70 peoples that defended Stalingard. It is the WEst that only speaks of Russians.
Timur, London,
My Grandfather is one of the Germans who died on the Russian front - he was 45. He was just an ordinary German conscripted near the end of the war. These were ordinary soldiers - it is good they can be laid to rest.
connie, Boulder, USA
There should no shame or dishonour heer. The Germans should be proud of their dead as we are of ours. Shame on the Nazi leadership but not for German armed forces.
They should all be buried with honour.
Warwick Lee, Sydney, Australia
Robinson is right.
See the appendix to the law of Germany "About preservation of burial places " - number of the identified tombs of German soldiers in USSR and East Europe is about 3 226 000.
Maybe Times suppose that part of that tombes are empty or somebody of soldiers resurrected.
Peter, Bremen, Germany
It seems unlikely that all- or even most- of the monsters amongst their number will be identified as such. Hatred and vendetta towards them is pointless now.
Michael, Pueblo, Colorado, US
To be fare no one really knows what life was like for the ordinary german soldier they had familys just as our war dead did its only fittings they recieve a buriell its niave to think they were all to blame for the atrocities
paul lysaght, liverpool, united kingdom
I'm ok with German soldiers being buried in peace but I am really surprised that there are people who believe that only SS was guilty in the awful atrocities. Prior to attack of the USSR German soldiers was officially ordered to have no mercy and do not treat Russians as humans - so they did not.
Egor, Moscow,
To Oleg, Russia was in league with the Nazis until 1941! After the defeat of France, Britain stood alone against Germany from 1940 to mid 1941. If you are looking for unsung hereos for defeating Nazis, then look to nations such as Poland, Czech Republice, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Miles, Exmouth, UK
Oleg, Toronto, I agree, it was Russia that made the greatest sacrifice and broke the back of the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, the Red Army then brought a repression of its own to eastern Europe, and outstayed its welcome for the next 40 years, but that is a different story...
Richard, Bexhill, UK
Oleg, Toronto, Canada
American's will argue that it was they who saved Europe (especially UK) from the nazi's. It is a very common discussion topic on political forums. They'll argue untill the cows come home. I'm just waiting for some American readers to comment...
jayil, london, uk
How soldier's are viewed depend's on which side you are on. For example; western soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan will be viewed as *nazis* also killing women and children by the people of Iraq/Afghanistan. To us they died bringing 'freedom'. 'The winner writes the history' -- Churchill
jayil, london, uk
I have no sympathy for the German dead. Every one of them swore a personal oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler. They knew what they were fighting for. The archives are full of photos from the early days of the war showing 'ordinary' soldiers murdering helpless Jews. They do not deserve honouring.
D.D. Todd, Vancouver, Canada
you are a bunch of nutcakes- these "soldiers" took great pleasure in busting in heads of children right in front of their parents and were quite proud of themselves- shame on you! their cause was seek and destroy - mainly the jewish population - not freedom for others under oppression.
Cindy M, Cocoa Beach, USA
What a stark contrast to the Japanese situation, where war dead (and millions who didn't die because civilians suffered retribution through the atomic bombs) are revered, while records of Japanese butchery of millions of fellow Asians and Allied POW's has been erased from Japanese history books!
Ash, Hua-Hin, Thailand
It's good that this article reminds people that Russian were the main force that beat Nazis. These days the forgotten soldiers are Russian soldiers who died to free Europe. If not them, Europe would speak German now and have Nazism. Eastern front was Nazism grave, let the fallen rest were they are.
Oleg, Toronto, Canada
Tom Welsh and Max Pronin are totally correct. Most of these people were average civilians conscripted on pain of death to die in their millions on the Eastern front. They are victims of an evil war and should be remembered as such. Forgetting them is a crime against history we should learn from!
Anthony, Brum,
Hmm: A soldier ordered into action and dies because of it, is forgotten and lies in a plastic bag in a factory, while an elected individual whose decision leads to the death of 4,000 of his OWN people and countless tens of thousands of others dies, he will have a huge memorial.
Deepak, Wayland, USA
They too must RIP. Many fought for Hitler knowing that if they didn't, they too would die from his evil henchman.
The only sin of the German people was not to question the regime and rebel against it before it was too late !!!!!! They could have.
ian payne, walsall,
Nobody commemorates defeat. If Britain hadn't managed to turn Dunkirk into a glorous wthdrawal the men who ded there would have been consigned to a forgotten history.
The German war dead should never be forgotten anymore than the Holocaust should.
Most of those men fought honourably.
Reg Kemp, March, England
How on earth can the Germans be accused of re-writing history, when the victors have been ramming it down their throats for over 60 years?
There are graves all over the world for dead soldiers, even those involved in dubious colonial wars. All of them deserve the same respect.
E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland
Its been over 60 years, it's time to give these young soldiers the chance to rest in peace. I'm sure some of them have brothers and sisters who should be given the chance to finally say goodbye.
Patrick Henderson, Coventry,
Soldiers, especially youthful enlisted soldiers in regular units, are just doing what they are told.
They should be treated with the respect all dead deserve.
Just like the Protestant soldiers who fell at Culloden.
Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada
Man to man, the Germans were the best soldiers. Never forget this.Honour these fallen soldiers. The criminals are the politiicans who sent them to their graves.
Gene, Sydney,
Inconsistencies in the number of war dead
95% of all German losses were on the eastern front. (In Stalingrad alone up to a million germans were KIA). so it means at least 4 million were killed on the eastern front. In fact the more likely figure is 5 to 7 million (plus 5 mil POW after war end).
Max Pronin, Moscow,
Rest In Peace
David Marland, Glasgow,
Phill
what are you on about? Germany has NEVER erased the ward from her history-if it it were possible which it is not as there is not ONE family now in Germany who did not have Parents, Grandparents suffer things that you on the Wirrall will never have any understanding of.
Emma, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, UK
Some things evoked by the article to reflect on
1. A couple of years ago Gerhard Schroeder the then chancellor was on a State Visit in an Eastern European country. A war grave was quickly prepared for what was believed to be the remains of his father who was killed in action. He moaned in silence.
GR, Liverpool, UK
2. complicated European history: Cheb (former name Eger, birthplace of "Albrecht von Wallenstein, soldier and statesman, Eger, Germany, 1634" (Times 28/2/2008), who was in command of the imperial german army during the 30 year war (1618-1648) for the Catholics, still seen as a traitor by Czechs
GR, Liverpool, UK
I am sorry, got in completely wrong in my previous posting:
Wallenstein was born in Hermanitz (Bohemia, Holy Roman Empire) and asassinated in Eger (Cheb) in then Bohemia.
GR, Liverpool, UK
The Germans have re-written history to leave the SS with all the blame for Eastern Front atrocities. In fact the Wehrmacht was equally complicit and participated in many of the mass killings with enthusiasm. Only unmarked graves are appropriate for these dead - it's all their victims got after all.
Phil, Lancaster, UK
Gunther, get over yourself. This story isn't about the US, stop making it out to be. These fallen German soldiers should be laid to rest with honor. They fought for their country, even if the cause wasn't just, they were duty bound to do no less.
Kristina Jensen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Most of those German soldiers were in exactly the same position as our soldiers today. Sent by the politicians to fight in foreign countries and told that it was necessary for the defence of their own people, they fought bravely to the death. Had they refused, they would simply have been shot.
Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,
There's being apologetic for the war and then there's trying to erase it from your history.
Germany, I fear, are guilty of the latter.
Phill , The Wirral, England
Following 1945, many World War Two veterans have sat down together to raise a glass of wine in the spirit of reconciliation. My Father had been a prisoner of war and all he ever said of the Germans was, "They were good soldiers." If the men who fought can forgive each other why can't we?
Catherine Jones, Halifax, Canada
There are many who disagree with a war, but must however go and fight "the enemy" nevertheless. What choice have they? They are children, brothers, and sons of the German people and should be treated with dignity as such. I can't imagine anyone forgetting warriors of a nation even so.
Marilyn Rhodes, marshfield, US
I think it is a disgraceful (after all this time) that Germany do not honour their dead, men that died for their country. They died with honour.
Always remember, the victors of conflicts write the history books.
Stand tall again GERMANY
don bagley, dublin, ireland
Very sad. Every one a son, brother, father who gave everything in unimaginable circumstances. They too should be remembered for their sacrifice.
Kevin Browne, Reading, Berkshire, England
The rememberance of "other" groups will diminish the Jewish holocaust primarily targeted with the largest number of 6 million.
jayil, london, uk
That one is a provocative article. I'm sure that this message would not be publiced due to its unpolitcorrectness. But still write 'cos the truth shouldn't be buried like all soldiers should be.
For the past 10 years we see that polititians try to show Red Army as a coquerer.
Pavel, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
We are human beings if some of them were not. Demonstrate how humanity should always prevail and bury them with respect.
Marc, Antrim,
In light of the current American and Allied war dead,
someone should take a set of flags on January 20, 2009 and hand them to George W. Bush with the words: " From the fallen to their commander-in-chief, who would not even have their return home viewed on arrival at Andrews ". Remember us.
Gunther Steinberg, Portola Valley, United States
Rightly or wrongly, these men and women answered their countries call, and that is something to honor. Not all Germans troops were Nazis, the majority of the troops in the Vermacht were Anti-Nazi. So to say the German people are ashamed of and embarassed by these men and women is to dishonor them.
Bill Curtis, Lexington, USA
As a veteran of another war, and another country, these soldiers should be buried with honour. They paid the highest price and have been truly, and cruelly, forgotten. This is not right. No one is glorifying their leaders, but they deserve respect. I would expect the same.
William, Hobe Sound, Florida, USA
We all should remember our war dead. The nation called and they served. And they died.
The Germans should quit pretending that certain parts of their history do not exist.
Jon Maynard, Lansing MI, USA
If anyone needs to think about it, this story should be a reminder that war, any war, for whatever reason is sheer insanity, Most of the people who decide on such a course escape the fate of the front line soldier. Hitler, Goebbels and Goering killed themselves.- Bush only has to regret 4000+.
Gunther Steinberg, Portola Valley, United States
You meant to say 'Europe's NEVER forgotten murderers' ,not warriors, plain and simple murderers.
Lucas, Toronto, Canada
I think your last statistic, "estimated number of German troops killed or wounded on the Eastern Front", is wrong; perhaps by a few million.
Robinson, London, UK