Glencree German Military Cemetery is situated in the Wicklow Mountains National Park south of Dublin. There are 127 Second World War burials here, many of whom were either Luftwaffe personnel whose aircraft got lost in bad weather, or sustained damage on raids over England and were unable to find their way home, or perhaps ran out of fuel due to navigational errors and crashed in Ireland, or Kriegsmarine personnel who lost their lives at sea and whose bodies were washed up on Irish shores. 53 of these men are identified, but 28 are sadly unknown. 46 German civilian detainees who were being transported from England to Canada on board the S.S. Arandora Star when she was torpedoed and sunk on 2nd July 1940 by Gunther Prien’s U-47, with the loss of more than 800 lives, are also buried here. There are six First World War graves, all German soldiers who died in British POW camps in Ireland. And there is one spy!
The grave of Dr. Hermann Görtz, Abwehr spy, who, fearing he would be handed over to the Soviets, committed suicide at the end of the Second World War.
I Feel Proud that IRELAND HAS HONOURED these Fallen Soldiers It Matters NOT whuch army they fought for
They were ALL YOUNG Men doin their duty SOME were VERY YOUNgG Children even
They had NO choice May They REST IN PEACE AMEN
And so you should. I couldn’t agree more.
My husband and I came upon the cemetery in 1989. A very moving experience. If only we could find a way to prevent wars. Shirley Willmott, Brisbane, Australia
It’a a very moving place, Shirley. Thanks for commenting. Maybe one day….
MY FATHER CLAIMED THAT, TOGETHER WITH A COLLEAGUE, HE BLASTED THE ROCK TO OPEN THE CEMETERY AT GLENCREE. THIS WOULD PROBABLY
HAVE BEEN IN THE 1930,s.MIGHT THIS BE TRUE?
That is fascinating, Rosalene. I have absolutely no idea whether it is the case, but I don’t see why not. Why would he say it otherwise? The only spanner in the works is that the cemetery was dedicated in 1961, but that proves nothing really. If I ever find out I shall post a message here.
I was told many years ago that my grandfathers company James Ryan & Sons, Dundrum done the stone work ,,, would love to know if that was true…
Any idea if there are any James Ryan & Sons archives in existence. At the local county archives maybe? Send them an email.