Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

• Country Germany
• Total identified casualties 7500 Find these casualties
• Region Nordrhein-Westfalen
• Identified casualties from Second World War
• GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.74094, Longitude: 6.08179

Location information

The town of Kleve lies in the west of Germany close to the Dutch border, approx 130kms to the north west of Koln, and approx 25kms to the south east of Nijmegen. NB: The closest airport is at Dusseldorf (Weeze). From the A57 motorway Koln to Goch take exit 2 (Ausfahrt 2) KLEVE / GOCH-WEST and follow the signs for KLEVE. After approx 2kms turn left onto the B504 and follow the direction KRANENBURG. Continue for approx 7kms and then turn right onto the GRUNEWALDSTRASSE, direction KLEVE Continue for approx 3.5kms and the cemetery can be found on the right. The cemetery address is:- Grunewaldstrasse 47533 Kleve Germany GPS Location is:- N 51 44 21 E 06 04 48

Visiting information

This cemetery is at all times open to the public and can be visited from sunrise to sunset.

Visitors should be aware that the parking area is on the opposite side of a busy road and care should be taken when crossing.

Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via the main entrance. Anybody experiencing difficulties can gain access via the service entrance with the help of our staff on site during working hours. Please ring the Western Europe Area office in Ieper, Belgium for more assistance: +32(0)57/22 47 50.

For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on 01628 507200.

History information

Reichswald Forest War Cemetery was created after the Second World War when burials were brought in from all over western Germany and is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the country.

Some of those members of the land forces buried there died in the advance through Reichswald Forest in February 1945. Others died crossing the Rhine, among them members of the airborne forces whose bodies were brought from Hamminkeln, where landings were made by the 6th Airborne Division from bases in England.

Some of the airmen buried in the cemetery lost their lives in supporting the advance into Germany, but most died earlier in the war in the intensive air attacks over Germany. Their graves were brought in from cemeteries and isolated sites in the surrounding area.

There are now 7,594 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 176 of the burials are unidentified. There are also 78 war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish.

Special Memorials to 9 airmen are located at the East boundary wall, near Plot 10. Further Special Memorials to 7 airmen are located within Plot 31, near the Cross of Sacrifice. The cemetery was designed by Philip Hepworth.