The Von's Grave.

[Ginger.]

I have just read an article about The Von's last resting place.It states that it has fallen into disrepair and is frequently vandalised.If this is true I find it very sad.

The reason it is vandalized is that the Nazi regime and Herr Himmler in particular made it over into a state propaganda site during WW-II. Until that time it was a monument that was held in great respect by the populace.
Unfortunately, the Russians still have his private museum, silver cups and all, in storage in a warehouse in Moscow.
Even though the body was moved from the original interment about 1920, the Bertangles cemetery was a very common visitation site for WWW-II German military personnel.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Ginger:
The InvalidenfriedHof, (Cemetary for the Disabled) is in what was East Berlin. The cemetery was not cared for by the East Germans, MvR was disinterred from Bertangles Cemetary in 1919 and moved to the German Military Cemetary in Fricourt. On 14 November 1925 he was again disinterred and transported by train in honor to Berlin and after a state funeral was finally interred on 20 November 1925. The German goverment should be taken to task and restore the Invalidenfriedhof to what it should be. This is their Arlington as I understand it. They certainly can afford to properly maintain the cemetery.
Dan-San Abbott

Richthofen is now buried in the Sudfriedhof in Wiesbaden.

regards,

MDD

[Amy]

To continue from DSA's reply:

In the 1970's, MvR's body was once again disinterred from the Invalidenfriedhof and re-buried with his brother Bolko, sister, and nephew in Südfriedhof Cemetery, Wiesbaden, Germany (his ma is there too, just in a different area). The times I've visited the gravesite, I've not seen nor heard of any vandalism and instead saw a pristine and well-kept grave. Brother Lothar's grave and their father's grave are a different story. They were buried in a cemetery (military cemetery?) in their hometown, however, the Russians bulldozed over the graves after WWII and their exact grave markings have been lost. I've heard that there's a park/football field over the "old" cemetery now. There's a memorial plaque for Lothar next to MvR's grave marker in Wiesbaden.

Someone is working on restoring the Invalidenfriedhof in Berlin, but seems to be a slow process. Scharnhorst's tombstone is anything but shabby. But, unfortunately several graves/tombstones were destroyed during WWII bombings and still don't have any markings (i.e. Buddecke).

I haven't been to that many cemetery's to the war dead, but i think the American one in Cambridge (uk) shows the level of respect that the brave men of any war deserve. Sadly it would seem that other countries do not take this as seriously. Its a real shame to hear.

Mark

Amy,
Buddecke has a tombstone at the Invalidenfriedhof but others don't : Rudolf Berthold, Ulrich Neckel, Psul Billik, Leo Leonhardy ...

Mosen

[Amy]

Mosen:

I didn't find Buddecke's grave when I was there. I did find Beaulieu-Marconnay's, but the stone is very difficult to read from years of weathering.

Amy

[Immo_Frese]

Hi Amy!

Buddecke's grave is just a few steps left from B-Marconnay. I was there the last year. There are several attempts in Berlin to reestablish some of the lost graves. Two major examples for famous fighter aces are the graves of Ernst Udet and Werner Mölders.

VBR, Immo

Where is max Immelmann's grave?

Thanks

Ben