German military cemetery in Lommel

Here at the cemetery in Kattenbos mainly German soldiers who fell during the Second World War are buried. In addition, a smaller number of soldiers who died during the First World War are buried here.

It is, as far as the Second World War is concerned, the largest German military cemetery outside Germany in Western Europe. The official dedication of the cemetery took place in 1959. According to the Geneva Convention, fallen soldiers, also abroad, have the "Right to Eternal Rest" .

Since 1946, when the Belgian government started the construction of the cemetery, all German soldiers from the Second World War found on Belgian territory are buried here. The site is 16 hectares and there are more than 39,000 soldiers. The number has increased slightly over time because remains of missing fallen were found.

On September 21, 2019, on the International Day of Peace , three unknown soldiers were interred in commemoration of 75 years of liberation and the 100th anniversary of the German war graves service. A "peace bell" was also cast on this special occasion, which was then placed in the courtyard in front of the crypt .

This crypt contains a large basalt crucifixion group from the Eifel. The statues of John and Mary are 3.30 meters high ; the total height of the calvary is 6 meters and its weight is 39 tons. In the crypt is an image of a fallen soldier.

In 1995 a tree was planted, a Ginko, Japanese nut tree , as a sign of hope and memory; not only to World War II, but also to August 6, 1945. On that date, the Allies dropped an atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

Willem Vandenameele