In 21st-century Britain, the harsh realities of the Second World War have largely faded from everyday memory, now appearing most prominently in textbooks and documentaries. However, in the Midlands region, a very real reminder of the brutal conflicts remains: a cemetery housing thousands of German and Austrian prisoner of war graves.
Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery
Almost 5,000 graves are located at the Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, containing soldiers who served in the First and Second World Wars and died in Britain. Prisoner of war camps were established at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire during both world wars. In 1959, the UK and German governments agreed to transfer all remains of German military personnel and civilians buried in Britain to a single site at Cannock Chase.
Today, the site lies within the picturesque surroundings of the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Notable burials include Ernst Busch, a Second World War field marshal, and Hans Hahn, a Luftwaffe flying ace from the Second World War.
The Legend of the German Parachutist Ghost
While the cemetery is neatly maintained, offering a sombre reminder of the conflicts, the general vicinity is said to be haunted by the ghost of a German parachutist. Cannock Chase historian Richard Pursehouse shared: "There have been a few instances over here of sightings, shall we say, including one at the German war graves cemetery here. There's been one on the A34 (Cannock Road) between Cannock and Stafford one night. A couple were coming home and they looked into the darkness and saw hanging from a tree, a German parachutist stuck there in all his ropes. They thought that's a bit odd, but it wasn't that far from here, less than a mile away on the A34. So somewhere between where the German prisoner of war camp in the Second World War was, at Teddesley Hall (in Penkridge), and this place, were nearly 5,000 German First World War and Second World War prisoners buried."
A total of 4,747 graves are located at the cemetery, mostly German and Austrian, but also a number of Ukrainian volunteers who were captured while in German service.
Visitor Information
The cemetery has winter and summer opening times. During winter on weekdays, it is open from 8am to 3:45pm or dusk, whichever is earlier, and on weekends from 11am to 4pm or dusk, whichever is earlier.
