How many stories lie beneath our feet here at Narashino City Cemetery? This place holds more than meets the eye. Narashino City Cemetery in Chiba is a place of rest. It is a place of remembrance. While it may seem like just a quiet field, Narashino City Cemetery has a history.
Let’s step back in time to the early 20th century. From 1915 to 1920, a prisoner-of-war camp existed in Narashino. About 890 German soldiers were held here. They came from Tsingtau, a German territory in China. These men were captured during World War I. After the war ended, they were finally sent back to Germany. But not all of them made it.
Some of these soldiers died in Narashino. They were buried here. Over time, their graves fell into disrepair. In 1955, a granite memorial was erected. It was dedicated on November 13, 1955. The memorial honors these German soldiers. It stands as a symbol of remembrance. The memorial lists names of soldiers who died in Narashino. It also lists soldiers who died in other Japanese camps. These camps include Nagoya, Tokushima, and Kurume.
The memorial at Narashino City Cemetery reads: “Dem Gedenken Deutscher Soldaten 1914-1918” which translates to: “In memory of German Soldiers 1914-1918”. It serves as a reminder of the human cost of war.
Among those remembered is Wilhelm Flögel. He was an Obermaschinistenmaat. Flögel died in the Nagoya camp on November 23, 1918. Paul Georgi, a Landwehr seaman, also perished in Nagoya. He died on November 28, 1918. Paul Gomille, a seaman, died in the Tokushima hospital on December 9, 1918. Johannes Jakob, a seaman, died in Nagoya on November 14, 1918. Johann Kaettgen, another seaman, died in Kurume on March 2, 1919. Hermann Kardinal passed away in Nagoya on December 1, 1918. Karl Kühne died in the Tokushima hospital on December 4, 1918. Wilhelm Pucherd met his end in Nagoya on November 26, 1918. August Schmiedel died in the Bando camp on March 6, 1919. Robert Schulze died in Nagoya on November 17, 1918. Hermann Seeger passed away in the Tokushima hospital on November 30, 1918.
The story of Siegfried von Saldern and his wife Irma is particularly tragic. Irma von Saldern followed her husband. He was held at the Fukuoka camp. She was murdered on February 25, 1917. Siegfried died shortly after on March 1, 1917.
Two soldiers returned home. Michael Fischer from Worringen and August Schekorr from Schmetzdorf survived. Schekorr was a prisoner since 1915. He later became a Vice-Feldwebel.
Today, Narashino City Cemetery stands as a peaceful place. It is a final resting place for many. It also holds a special memorial. This memorial connects us to a time of war and remembrance. Take a moment to reflect on the lives and stories buried here at Narashino City Cemetery.