Fundraising campaign for German cemetery in Poland starts in Schwerin!

Fundraising campaign for German cemetery in Poland starts in Schwerin!

A matter close to the heart for many: The German War Graves Commission started this year's house and street collection on October 28th in Schwerin. Joachim Wulff, a committed supporter of the organization, made a generous donation and emphasized the importance of this collection. Wulff has a personal connection to the topic, as his uncle was lost in Stalingrad during World War II. It is these emotional connections that motivate people to get involved in the good cause, and this was also emphasized by the Volksbund state chairman Lorenz Caffier when welcoming the participants at the opening event.

In the coming weeks, around 500 soldiers and numerous volunteers from various organizations, including the reservist association, the volunteer fire departments and many schools, will be asking for donations in the pedestrian zones, at front doors and during events. These helpers are equipped with special ID cards to confirm their identity. Even in times of global conflict, as is currently the case in Ukraine and the Middle East, it is important to uphold peace and freedom. North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, who has taken over the patronage of the Volksbund's actions in North Rhine-Westphalia, emphasizes precisely this necessity.

Support for a special cemetery

The net proceeds from this year's collection are intended for the Stare Czarnowo or Neumark care cemetery in Poland. In June of this year, 224 war dead from the Second World War were buried there, and further burials of German war dead are planned for the coming year. A total of over 25,000 war dead are buried in the cemetery. This shows how important the work of the Volksbund is, which looks after over 2.8 million graves in more than 800 cemeteries in 46 European and North African countries.

Last year, the Volksbund in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was able to raise more than 47,000 euros from these collections. This is an impressive amount and shows that people are willing to donate to the memory of those who have died. The house and street collection runs until November 23rd, which gives collectors the opportunity to address the importance of peace and keep the memory of the war victims alive during this time.

The work of the Volksbund

The German War Graves Commission is not only a place of mourning and remembrance, but also a platform that actively promotes peace. Through numerous international youth and school projects, he promotes understanding between young and old across borders. Every year around 20,000 people visit the Volksbund's four educational centers. At a time when friendship and cohesion are becoming increasingly important, the commitment of young people is invaluable.

For anyone who would like to find out more about the work of the Volksbund, there are over five million entries available in the “Grave Search Online” database. This interactive research platform enables those interested to learn more about the history of the fallen soldiers. There are also ongoing efforts to search for missing German World War II dead in Eastern Europe, with about 10,000 new graves identified each year.

The Volksbund is a living part of our culture of remembrance and is committed not to forget the past while at the same time working on the idea of ​​peaceful coexistence. The 1 millionth recovered German war dead will be buried in Kaunas, Lithuania in September 2024 - another sign of the tireless work carried out by the Volksbund. It remains to be hoped that this year's collection will also be a complete success and that many people will use the opportunity to set an example for peace and remembrance.