The Erenfriedhof in Dahn, Germany, is a war cemetery located in the Palatinate Forest (Pfälzerwald), not far from the town of Dahn in Rhineland-Palatinate. It primarily serves as the final resting place for German soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. With over 2,400 graves, 2407 according to an information board at the cemetery, 2415 according to the German Kriegsgräberstätten website. The cemetery is managed by the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German War Graves Commission), an organization responsible for maintaining German war graves abroad and within the country.
The cemetery was established to consolidate graves from smaller, scattered burial sites in the surrounding region. Most of the soldiers interred there died during the final phases of the war in 1944 and 1945, as fighting intensified in southwestern Germany. The site also includes the graves of a few civilian casualties and foreign soldiers.
Designed to blend into its natural environment, the Erenfriedhof Dahn is notable for its quiet, forested setting and its simple, uniform headstones. It is intended as a place of remembrance and reflection rather than glorification. The cemetery reflects a broader post-war approach in Germany toward war memory, emphasizing mourning, reconciliation, and the tragic consequences of conflict.
Visit
Visitors to the Erenfriedhof often include relatives of the fallen, local residents, and school groups. Educational programs and guided tours are sometimes offered to inform visitors about the history of the site and the importance of peace and remembrance. The cemetery is open year-round and maintained as a place of dignity and historical awareness.
