20th Century Military Cemeteries Outline
20th Century Military Burials in the US, Europe, and World-Wide
World War I and World War II military burials are located on every continent, except Antarctica. In Europe, they are found in 48 of the 51 countries. Military cemetery burials include civilians, Prisoners of War, diplomats, United Nations staff, medical workers, and volunteer aid workers, including women. World War I cemeteries can contain several nationalities, including opposing sides of that conflict. Some military burials are in town cemeteries. Partisan cemeteries or burials in town cemeteries are maintained by that town. Military cemeteries usually list those missing and include burials of the unknown. Burial records can include town of birth and parents as well as dates of birth and death. Religious affiliations are often noted on the headstones. Includes a description of efforts to identify those buried as unknown, as well as more recently discovered remains, using DNA. Some online databases are searchable while other cemeteries only post a paper list onsite. Descriptions of military and burial sources both online and onsite for many nations are listed in the handout with links.
1. Finding recognized members of military units (US, Commonwealth, Polish, French, German, and more) buried in military cemeteries world-wide as a result of their participation in WWI and WWII.
a. Information about these people and their units, as well as photos of their headstones and cemeteries is incorporated into this presentation.
b. Many headstones include birth locations and dates as well as the unit in which the person served.
2. WWI and WWII cemeteries in 48 of the 51 European countries, the US, and world-wide
a. chart of cemetery locations and nationalities of burials
b. cemetery populations
3. Searching online
a. www.cem.va.gov
b. www.abmc.gov
c. www.cwgc.org
d. www.volksbund.de
e. Google search
4. Monuments to the missing and unknown burials
a. searching for identity
b. updating missing lists and previously unknown burials
5. Other nationalities in some cemeteries
a. supporting nations
b. colonies
6. Others in US military cemeteries
a. Prisoners of War
b. enemy aliens
7. After the War
a. Programs in cemeteries to include locals
1. adopting graves to learn about the life of that person
2. school tours of cemeteries as part of local history
b. perpetual care of graves per Geneva Conventions
8. Research possibilities
a. online links to cemeteries
b. online links to War research
c. onsite research
Related pages:
Italian Military Cemeteries
20th Century Military Cemeteries and Burials
Italian Military Research
Italian POWs Across America
POW Camps in the USA
World War II Presentations
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