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Origin and history

The German military cemetery of Veslud was established in 1917, in the context of the First World War, after the French offensive of 16 April on the Chemin des Dames. Created by the Germans, it is located in the extension of Veslud Civil Cemetery, in the department of Aisne. Its initial layout used techniques such as dynamite to shape stairs and terraces, under the supervision of a German officer. This place of memory, which accommodates 1,704 bodies (including 6 unidentified), was renovated in the 1930s, then between 1980 and 1987, with tombs redone in stone in the form of Latin crosses or steles.

The cemetery is distinguished by its imposing dead monument, dedicated to the soldiers of the 50th Infantry Division, erected according to the plans of architect Scholzen of Düsseldorf. This monument, perfectly preserved, as well as the remarkable environment and the original interior layout, make this site a unique place. In 1979, the tombs were standardized in stone, respecting the religious symbols of the deceased (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish). The cemetery was listed as a historical monument by order of 8 November 1999, stressing its heritage and memorial importance.

Access to the German cemetery is via a staircase located at the bottom of the Veslud communal cemetery. This site, managed in collaboration with the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German service for the maintenance of military burials), bears witness to the fighting of the Chemin des Dames and the presence of an emergency post or a nearby field hospital. Its architecture and history make it a key element in the memory of the First World War in the Hauts-de-France.

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