Silberloch National Cemetery, National cemetery at Hartmannswillerkopf, France
Silberloch National Cemetery is a national war grave site in Wattwiller containing 1,640 French soldiers from World War I, including 384 unidentified individuals in collective graves. The grounds include an 80 meter (262 feet) trench leading to an underground chapel with an ossuary holding approximately 12,000 unknown soldiers and displays of battlefield artifacts.
The cemetery was established in 1922 to honor fallen soldiers from the strategic battles of Hartmannswillerkopf during World War I. These battles rank among the bloodiest in the Alsace region and shaped French national memory profoundly.
The cemetery reflects the diversity of fallen soldiers with dedicated areas for Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish mourning practices. This spatial arrangement shows how the site honors different faiths and brings various communities together in respect.
Visitors can reach the cemetery near Wattwiller and explore the grounds in the afternoon hours throughout the year. Sturdy shoes are recommended as pathways descend through the trench and cross uneven terrain.
The underground section holds not only bones in the ossuary but also original artifacts from excavations and combat in the region. This collection offers direct insight into everyday objects soldiers carried, revealing the material reality of war.
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