German National Day of Mourning 2010 - Glencree German Military Cemetery

Dr Strange

Hi all,

just wanted to let those of you interested in attending know that this year's German National Day of Mourning at Glencree German Military Cemetery (Co. Wicklow) will take place this coming Sunday 14 November 2010 (usually incorporates an ecumenical or interfaith service at the Glencree Church followed by a wreath-laying ceremony by the German Ambassador, German War Graves Commission and others. It usually starts around 10.00am or 10.30am but I'll post exact times when known.

The wreath-laying ceremony is sometimes followed by a seminar held at the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. Topics vary and have inculded in the past the role of Ireland in housing German orphans after WWII etc.

Fratton Fred

isn't this a week earlier than usual?

leaves2ooo

Are there any more details available about this anywhere online?

Dr Strange

Fratton Fred wrote: »

isn't this a week earlier than usual?

The Volkstrauertag is not a fixed date but occurs 2 Sundays before the First Advent (therefore always falling on a different date each year).

leaves2ooo wrote: »

Are there any more details available about this anywhere online?

Nothing yet specific for Glencree. I will post something if I get any info.

Here's something on the Volkstrauertag itself (in English):

http://www.volksbund.de/presse/volkstrauertag/geschichte_en.asp

Dr Strange

leaves2ooo wrote: »

Are there any more details available about this anywhere online?

Actually here's some info by the German Embassy Dublin on this year's ceremony:

Deutsche Botschaft Dublin wrote:

A service of prayers for peace, led by pastors of the Lutheran Church of Ireland Dr. Joachim and Corinna Diestelkamp and Father John Sinnot of St. Kevin's Chapel will open the Remembrance Day. The service will be accompanied by the local choir of Enniskerry. Afterwards, a wreath-laying ceremony at the German Military Cemetery in Glencree will take place.

Following this the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation holds a seminar on "The Peaceful Revolution in Germany and the Path to Reconciliation", which is supported by the German Embassy and will be presented by Dr. Markus Meckel, the last foreign minister of the GDR and member of Bundestag (German Parliament) from 1990 to 2009.

Link:
http://www.dublin.diplo.de/Vertretung/dublin/en/__events/Veranstaltungen__2010/Veranstaltungen_20der_20Botschaft/Glencree__2010,archiveCtx=2962304.html

Starting time is 11.30am.

Link to poster:
http://www.dublin.diplo.de/Vertretung/dublin/en/newsletter/Ausgaben__NL/Plakat_20Volkstrauertag__Downloaddatei,property=Daten.pdf

PatsytheNazi

Anyone any idea how many are buried there ? I called into once when passing by and was surprised by the number of graves.

Dr Strange

PatsytheNazi wrote: »

Anyone any idea how many are buried there ? I called into once when passing by and was surprised by the number of graves.

There are 136 graves altogether. Six of them from the 1. World War and 128 from the 2. World War.

Some sources say 134 graves:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glencree#German_war_cemetery


Some more links:

http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/html/place-details.php?show=122

http://www.hidden-dublin.com/images/dublin/glencree1.html

http://www.ww2museums.com/article/3663/German-War-Cemetery-Glencree.htm

http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/misc_laender/glencree_ie.htm