Halbe Forest Cemetery

Halbe Forest Cemetery is a burial ground spread across seven hectares of forested land with eleven grave fields holding approximately 24,000 individuals from World War II. Each grave is marked with granite stones distributed throughout the wooded landscape.

Over 40,000 people died during the Battle of Halbe Pocket in April 1945, resulting in numerous mass graves scattered across the region. In 1951, scattered remains were centralized and reburied at this site to create a unified memorial ground.

The cemetery is named after Protestant minister Ernst Teichmann, whose vision shaped it into a place where scattered remains found a common home. Visitors walking through the grounds sense this purposeful gathering, a response to loss that transformed grief into remembrance.

The site offers electronic guides at Ernst-Teichmann-Straße with information panels explaining the historical background of the location. The forested setting means visitors should wear comfortable shoes and bring weather protection for a full experience.

A dedicated researcher continues to locate remains in the surrounding forests, identifying fallen soldiers through personal items found at the sites. This ongoing search reveals that the cemetery's work of remembrance extends beyond its borders.