The Rheinberg War Cemetery is a

Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...

cemetery in

Rheinberg Rheinberg () is a town in the district of Wesel, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the Rhine, approx. north of Moers and south of Wesel. It comprises the municipal districts of Rheinberg, Borth, Budberg, an ...

, Germany. It was established in 1946 and is home to 3,330 graves from the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

History

The site for the Rheinberg War Cemetery was selected in April 1946. Commonwealth servicemen from other cemeteries in the region were moved to the new cemetery. Most of the servicemen buried served in the air force during the

bombing of Germany World War II (1939–1945) involved sustained strategic bombing of railways, harbours, cities, workers' and civilian housing, and industrial districts in enemy territory. Strategic bombing as a military strategy is distinct both from close ...

. Servicemen from other services mostly fought during the

Western Allied invasion of Germany The Western Allied invasion of Germany was coordinated by the Allies of World War II, Western Allies during the final months of hostilities in the European theatre of World War II, European theatre of World War II. In preparation for the Allied ...

.Rheinberg War Cemetery

, reviewed on 24 March 2019

Cemetery

The cemetery was designed by

Philip Hepworth Philip Dalton Hepworth (12 March 1888 – 21 February 1963) was a British architect. He studied in both the UK and France, at the Architectural Association School of Architecture and the École des Beaux-Arts, and returned to work as an architec ...

following standard Commission architectural design features, and contains 3,330 graves, out of which 3,183 have been identified. Every grave is marked with a white headstone and the cemetery grounds are grass covered with a floral border around the headstones. The cemetery is surrounded on three sides by forest and borders a road in the south. The south side is walled by a hedge with a low wall and a wrought-iron gate entrance in the middle. The graves are located on the east and west side of the cemetery with the middle containing several structures such as a

Stone of Remembrance The Stone of Remembrance is a standardised design for war memorials that was designed in 1917 by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for the Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC). It was designed to commemorate the dead of World War I, to b ...

and a

Cross of Sacrifice The Cross of Sacrifice is a Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth war memorial designed in 1918 by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission). It is present in Commonwealth War grave ...

.Rheinberg War Cemetery
niederrhein-nord.de, reviewed on 24 March 2019

Notable interments

*Squadron leader

Robert Palmer Robert Allen Palmer (19 January 1949 – 26 September 2003) was an English singer and songwriter. He was known for his powerful and soulful voice, sartorial elegance and stylistic explorations, combining soul, funk, jazz, rock, pop, regga ...

VC DFC & Bar (1920-1944), Second World War

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

recipient

Gallery of images

File:005 Altar mit Aufschrift.jpg,

File:WRC Grabsteine mit Kreuz mk.jpg, Graves and

File:Soldatenfriedhof - Rheinberg War Cemetery - Eingang.jpg, Entrance File:RWC Grabstein des Hindu Soldaten mk.jpg, Indian Hindu grave File:RWC Grabstein eines Niederländers mk.jpg, Dutch grave File:010 Angehöriger der Königl. Luftwaffe und Jude.jpg, British Jewish grave

References

External links

* {{Find a Grave cemetery British military memorials and cemeteries Canadian military memorials and cemeteries Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Germany Buildings and structures in Wesel (district)