Proposed Programmablauf

Remembrance Day Service
Sunday, November 15, 2015
AN ALLE SOLDATEN DEREN WUNSCHTRÄUME NICHT ERFÜLLT WURDEN
Der Kriegsgefangene
Edwin Erich Dwinger
Deutsche Heimat, deine Lande
Nur noch einmal frei der Bande
Mit versehntem Aug’ zu grüßen
Und auf wandermüden Füßen
Deine Erde zu betreten,
Ist mein Beten.
Nur noch einmal deine Felder,
Deine dunkeldichten Wälder,
Wo auf grünen Kiefernzweigen
Sprießend helle Kerzen steigen,
Deine Wälder zu betreten,
Ist mein Beten.
Nur noch einmal deine Heiden,
Deine Blumenhügelweiden,
Die in roten Lichtern glänzen,
Buntgeschmückt von Blütenkränzen,
Deine Heiden zu betreten,
Ist mein Beten . . .
Dear Visitor
Welcome! You are standing in front of 187 graves of German prisoners of war who died in Canada in thirtysix internment camps during the first and second World Wars. These men were taken prisoners in Europe and
shipped to Canada. Some were teenagers and others middle-aged men. They died far away from their homeland,
far away from their families and friends. Since they were buried in different locations across Canada, a decision
was made to transfer the remains to this location, the Woodland Cemetery in Kitchener, to give the deceased a
common resting place. The burial site was dedicated on May 23, 1971 by Professor Willi Thiele and consecrated
By Rev. Helmut Pfruefer of the Bethel Lutheran Church and Rev. J. Schmalz. Representatives of the Canadian
and German Government, the VDK (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.), 126 Relatives of the dead
soldiers, representatives of many German-Canadian Clubs and individuals from all walks of life attended the
inauguration. Since the inauguration, a commemorative service of reflection has taken place annually at this location on the German Day of Remembrance. And as we, the representatives of the German community do on
Canadian Remembrance Day, so do representatives of the Canadian Armed Forces place wreaths to pay their
last respect and salute the dead German soldiers. No longer as enemies, but as men who lost their life fighting
for their country. A noble gesture indeed.
In preparation for the 40th anniversary of the dedication of this Woodland Cemetery site, members and friends
of the German Canadian Remembrance Society replaced the wooden crosses after they were damaged by vandalism, poured new footings under the entrance wall, trimmed the trees, cleaned and re-pointed the walkway,
cleaned all crosses and repainted all the names and placed wreaths at all the crosses.
E.F.
è
Lieber Freund
Willkommen! Vor Dir liegen die Gräber von 187 deutschen Soldaten die in sechsunddreißig kanadischen Lagern
als Kriegsgefangene des ersten und zweiten Weltkriegs ihr Leben ließen. Sie gerieten in Europa in Gefangenschaft
und wurden nach Kanada abtransportiert. Manche waren noch sehr jung und andere waren Männer im mittleren
Alter. Sie starben weit entfernt von ihrer Heimat, von ihren Familien und Freunden. Da sie in verschieden Orten
begraben waren, entschied man sich ihre sterblichen Überreste an einen gemeinsamen Ort zu bringen um ihnen
dort die letzte Ruhe zu gewähren. Als Platz wurde der Woodland Friedhof in Kitchener gewählt. Diese Stätte
wurde am 23. Mai 1971 von Professor Willi Thiele eingeweiht und von den Pastoren Helmut Pruefer und
J. Schmalz gesegnet. Vertreter der kanadischen und der deutschen Regierung sowie Repräsentanten des VDK
(Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.) nahmen an der Feier teil. Weiter waren Vertreter von vielen
Deutschkanadischen Vereinen zugegen und auch 126 Angehörige der Verstorbenen und viele Personen, etwa
2000, die zu diesem Ereignis nach Kitchener kamen. Jedes Jahr findet seitdem eine Feier statt an der auch Angehörige des kanadischen Heeres, der Marine und der Luftwaffe teilnehmen. Und so wie wir, als Vertreter unserer
deutschen Gemeinde am kanadischen Remembrance Day, legen auch sie Kränze nieder und gebieten den toten
deutschen Soldaten die letzte Ehre. Nicht länger als ehemalige Gegner, sondern als Soldaten die für ihr Land ihr
Leben ließen. In der Tat eine edle Geste.
In Vorbereitung auf das 40. Jubiläum der Einweihung dieser Grabstätte haben Mitglieder und Freunde der
Deutsch-Kanadischen Gedächtnisstiftung die Holzkreuze ersetzt, nachdem sie durch Brandstiftung geschädigt
wurden, ein neues Fundament unter der Mauer am Eingang gegossen, die Bäume beschnitten, den Steinweg
gesäubert und verfugt, alle Kreuze gereinigt und alle Namen neu ausgemalt und Kränze an alle Kreuze gelegt.
E.F.
Remembrance Day Service
Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 2.30 p.m.
Woodland Cemetery, 119 Arlington Blvd., Kitchener
è
PROGRAM
• Musical opening by the Transylvania Brass Band
under the direction of Mrs. Andrea Emrich
• Musical contribution of the Concordia Choirs
under the direction of Mr. Martin Anderle
• Prayer, spoken by Rev. David Gallas
Chaplain with the Canadian Armed Forces, Garrison Petawawa
• Speech by Walter Stechel
Consul General of the Federal Republik of Germany in Toronto
• Laying of wreaths
by the Consul General Walter Stechel,
representatives of the federal, provincial, regional and municipal
government, and veterans and representatives of German clubs and
German associations
• Musical contribution by the Concordia Choirs
• Musical contribution “Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden”,
played by the Transylvania Brass Band
• The Last Post, followed by
Zapfenstreich (tattoo),
played by the Transylvania Brass Band
After the service please join us for coffee and cake at the Alpine Club,
464 Maple Avenue, Kitchener.
Sponsored by the German Canadian Remembrance Society
Forde Studio Photographers, Kitchener 1973
German Soldiers’ Cemetery in Kitchener
There has rarely been another event as deeply moving in its serenity as
the inauguration in Kitchener-Waterloo of a cemetery for German
soldiers. It was a moment of profound reflection for both the GermanCanadian community, and for Canadians at large. Under the Canadian
flag, that of the Federal Republic of Germany, and under the banner of
the Volksbund Deutscher Kriegsgraeberfuersorge - VDK (Peoples’ Association
for the Care of the Graves of German Veterans), a veterans’ burial site was
dedicated on May 23, 1971 by Professor Willi Thiele, and consecrated in
Woodland Cemetery by the Revs. H. Pruefer and J. Schmelz, to be turned
over to the care of the city. The mortal remains of one hundred and eightyseven German POW’s and internees of the First and Second World Wars,
who had died in Canada and had been buried all across the country in
thirty-six scattered locations, were disinterred, to be taken to this
Kitchener cemetery as their final resting place. We owe this humanitarian
act of reverence for the dead to the unflagging efforts on the part of
Canadian authorities and the VDK.
One hundred and twenty-six relatives of the dead soldiers and internees,
representatives of the Canadian and Federal German governments and the
VDK, as well as many delegations from German-Canadian clubs, and
about two thousand visiting individuals had come to Kitchener for the
occasion. A more dignified and solemn ceremony has rarely been held by
the German-Canadian people of Kitchener-Waterloo. Every year, on
Remembrance Day, there are commemorative services of reflection for
these and all war dead, attended regularly by a representative of the
Federal Republik of Germany.
Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden
(Worte: Ludwig Uhland - Weise: F.Silcher)
Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden,
Einen besseren find’st du nicht.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
In gleichem Schritt und Tritt.
Eine Kugel kam geflogen
Gilt sie mir oder gilt sie dir?
Ihn hat es weggerissen,
Er liegt vor meinen Füssen
Als wär’s ein Stück von mir
Will mir die Hand noch reichen,
Derweil ich eben lad’.
“Kann dir die Hand nicht geben,
Bleib du im ew’gen Leben
Mein guter Kamerad!”
å
I’ve known a Friend so precious
(Translation by Danuta Grigaitis)
I’ve known a friend so precious
His vision I embrace.
With courage we walked together
Through war’s dangers, storm and weather
My precious Friend and I.
A deadly bullet flitteth,
Was it meant for you or I?
At my feet his body lying
My precious Comrade dying
While I was spared to remain.
His hand outstretched - he whispers:
“The final hour has come.”
“I not know my life’s endeavour,
Sleep in heavenly peace forever
My very precious Friend.”
å
VOLKSTRAUERTAG
AND MAINTAINING THE GRAVES
To maintain these graves and organize this annual event costs money.
Over the years numerous people have supported us with their donations.
We very much appreciate this and hereby thankfully acknowledge the following donors:
Anonymous
Friedrich Schiller Foundation
Bernd Baumgaertel
Anton and Brigitte Bergmeier
Alice and Werner Bromberg
Helmut Burkhart
Ruth and Ernst Friedel
Helga Fritsch
Sybille Rentmeister
Helene Schramek
RS
German-Canadian Remembrance Society
Deutsch-Kanadische Gedächtnis Stiftung
The German-Canadian Remembrance Society is a charitable organization solely funded
by its members. More than ever, we need the support of our members and the community
so that we can carry on with projects such as maintaining the German War Graves Section
at Woodland Cemetery. We are very appreciative of your donation – a charitable donation
receipt will be provided for all donations of /or more than $20.00.
Name: __________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
City/Province/PC: _________________________________________________
Phone:__________________________ Donation Amount: _________________
Donations can be mailed to:
German Canadian Remembrance Society
41 River Rd E., Unit B, Kitchener, Ontario N2B 2G3 519-579-6185
[email protected]
www.germanremembrancesociety.com