Close to me and the old airfield at North Cotes is the village church. In the graveyard are many young RAF Aircrew who died. Three German graves are also there. Not seperated but together. Its a very moving place and a beautiful church. Fitting really, RIP.
My father told me how there were some German airmen from early in WW2 (I think), who were buried in Great Burstead churchyard, near Billericay in Essex as they had crashed nearby. There used to be a flowering shrub/tree near their graves, which always had beautiful blooms. They later were reburied, in I assume in a German cemetery - and the shrub/tree didn't bloom as beautifully again. It is possible that the roots were disturbed, and my father joined up to fight, so it may have improved much later, but he was not around very often to see. I do not know as Dad stayed on in the Army, leaving in 1969. Oh, and he had noticed that the buttons on their uniforms were made in Birmingham. He knew this as he sewed the same make of button on British uniforms he made as a tailors apprentice!
So you feel the RAF should not have defended the UK? Sadly many youngsters were killed defending your right to speak freely. starmer the dictator is trying to stop, free speech, would you fight against communism!
Here is the story of how it came about: An interview with Terry Dix, the day after he received the German Order of Merit for his work with the Cannock War Graves ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WHzlWPZlyKA.html
@@MH_Workshop Terry Dix also started the town twinning with Germany 40 years ago. Sadly, Terry died a month after we did the video, just after his 83rd Birthday.
@@MH_Workshop Yes, I am just glad that we got to record it so it is a permanent record. We are working with a lot of old people in town to record their memories from 70-80 years ago to produce a social history of the town as told by the people who lived it.
The saying "To the victor the spoils" is never more true than when you look for German war graves or memorials. Whilst it is right that the Nazi Swastika is never shown many of these, and this cemetery seems no different, feature no national symbol such as the Prussian Cross? I don't feel that is right, they fought for their country so honour them!
German POWs were not returned home straight after the war ended. Some remained in the UK for several years, for various reasons. Some even chose to make the UK their home. In Orpington, Kent, there is a war 1cemetery of mostly Canadians who passed away up to 5 years after the war ended. They had been patients in the local hospital.
@@jonb3311 Thanks. I knew about the phased release of POWs (met one in 1966 and Bert Trautmann, goalie for Man City, is a famous example of those who stayed and settled here). It was spotting that 3 of the POWs named on the gravestones in the foreground died 20/11, 21/11 and 29/11/45 that caught my attention. Good point that they may also have succumbed to their wounds.
Mum's brother a merchant seaman died of TB in 1946. They wouldn't give them penicillin. Probably the same for the German prisoners. Rot in hell Winston.
