Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery
- Country United Kingdom
- Total identified casualties 4787 Find these casualties
- Region Staffordshire
- Identified casualties from First & Second World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 52.73875, Longitude: -2.02274
Location information
From the M6, exit at Junction 11 and take the A460 towards Cannock town centre. From Cannock town centre take the A34, Cannock to Stafford road. Follow for approximately 3 miles to roundabout, following signs for Rugeley. Turn right after about 1 mile, then left at crossroads. Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery is signposted on the A34 when travelling from either Cannock or Stafford.
Visiting information
OPENING HOURS:
Summer (1st April to 30th September) Weekdays: 08.00 - 15.45
Summer Weekends: 10.00 - 17.00
Winter (1st October to 31st March) Weekdays: 08.00 - 15.45 or dusk, whichever is earlier.
Winter Weekends: 11.00 - 16.00 or dusk, whichever is earlier.
Limited access during the Christmas/New Year holiday period.
Would visitors please note the Cemetery Register is available at this site on request. If you wish to view the Register please ask any Member of Staff for assistance they will be pleased to help.
History information
On 16 October 1959, an agreement was concluded by the governments of the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the future care of the graves of German nationals who lost their lives in the United Kingdom during the two World Wars. The agreement provided for the transfer to a central cemetery in the United Kingdom of all graves which were not situated in cemeteries and plots of Commonwealth war graves maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in situ.
Following this agreement, the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgraberfursorge) made arrangements to transfer the graves of German servicemen and civilian internees of both wars from scattered burial grounds to the new cemetery established at Cannock Chase.
The inauguration and dedication of this cemetery, which contains almost 5,000 German and Austrian graves, took place in the presence of Dr. Trepte, the President of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgraberfursorge, on the 10th June 1967.
In the centre of the Hall of Honour, resting on a large block of stone, is a bronze sculpture of a fallen warrior, the work of the eminent German sculptor, Professor Hans Wimmer.