Welcome to War Graves Day, an initiative to establish a European War Graves Remembrance Day.
The period following World War II was the most peaceful time in European history. Former enemies reconciled and became good neighbors, friends, and allies.
To maintain this peace, it is essential to acknowledge our shared history and continuously highlight its importance.
The design features The Mourning Parents, a sculpture by Käthe Kollwitz.
Our goal is to raise awareness among young people about war graves and encourage them to visit these sites. This effort should not only take place on a national level but also extend beyond borders. To reach as many young people as possible, we aim to involve school classes in discussions about war graves and, potentially, through student exchange programs, engage in grave maintenance in other countries.
Why May 10th?
We propose May 10th as War Graves Day. On this date, the Treaty of Frankfurt was signed, which included an article concerning war graves. In that sense, it can be considered an early war graves agreement. While the treaty intensified Franco-German hostility, this particular article was a significant step forward.
Our posters each depict a war cemetery. The number of helmets symbolizes the number of soldiers buried at the respective site.
Nécropole nationale de Notre-Dame de Lorette
Notre-Dame de Lorette is the largest French war cemetery, with over 40,000 fallen soldiers.
The cemetery is located in Ablain-St-Nazaire.
[Download poster (400x600mm)]
Tyne Cot Cemetery
Tyne Cot is one of many war cemeteries in Belgian Flanders. In addition to the 11,968 fallen soldiers buried there, the memorial commemorates 34,980 Commonwealth soldiers missing around Ypres.
[Download poster (400x600mm)]
Kriegsgräberstätte Ysselsteyn
The Ysselsteyn War Cemetery is the only German war cemetery in the Netherlands and, covering 28 hectares, the largest in the world.
Nearly all of the 31,813 fallen soldiers were buried individually by the Dutch war graves service.
[Download poster (400x600mm)]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this just a student project?
No. While we are currently focusing on successfully completing our education, we plan to continue the initiative more actively from summer 2025 onward.
Can I use the posters freely?
Yes, anyone can download and print the posters in high resolution. However, modifications or commercial use of our posters are strictly prohibited.
Do you have a roadmap?
After completing our education, we plan to publish a roadmap outlining the future of War Graves Day.
Can I order printed posters?
Please use the contact form for inquiries. Alternatively, you can download the posters and have them printed at a print shop.