Rheinberg War Cemetery, Commonwealth war cemetery in Rheinberg, Germany.
Rheinberg War Cemetery is a large memorial ground with roughly 3,300 white headstones laid out in neat rows across the site. The grounds feature grass areas and flower borders, while forest boundaries create a quiet setting for the memorial.
The site was chosen in April 1946, and the cemetery was built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Commonwealth servicemen were moved here from cemeteries in Düsseldorf, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Goch, Lingen and Cologne. Most had served in the air forces during the bombing of Germany; others fell in the Western Allied invasion of Germany.
The cemetery's Heldenhalle carries a German inscription stating that the site was placed at the disposal of the German people as a permanent resting place and as an honour for fallen sailors, soldiers and airmen. Two stone tablets there thank the German people for providing the land. The headstones record unit, rank, service number, age and, where known, a cross or Star of David.
The cemetery is located north of Rheinberg and is reached via exit 7 of the A57 motorway. From the exit, follow the B510 road towards Kamp Lintfort to arrive at the grounds.
Among the graves is that of Flight Lieutenant John Vere Hopgood, an RAF pilot shot down in May 1943 during Operation Chastise, the "Dambusters" raid on the Ruhr dams. Squadron Leader Robert Palmer, awarded the Victoria Cross for a bombing run over the Ruhr in December 1944, is also buried here.
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