How did the village of Fournes find itself at the rear of the front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1918? Today we stand at the Cimetière militaire allemand de Fournes-en-Weppes. It is a testament to a war that reshaped Europe.
The Cimetière militaire allemand de Fournes-en-Weppes is located at the end of the Chemin des Chaumers. It rests in the heart of the village. This location holds a silent history.
During the First World War, Fournes was a garrison village. The Michon train delivered the dead and wounded here each evening. The Germans quickly established a cemetery nearby. They often crafted crosses from simple wooden planks. Unlike some other cemeteries in Sainghin and Marquillies, this one has remained in its original location.
The Cimetière militaire allemand de Fournes-en-Weppes was created by German troops in October 1914. It became the final resting place for many. The cemetery holds 1,916 bodies from the First World War. Among them are 1,916 German soldiers and five French soldiers. 1,739 Germans lie in marked graves. 190 rest in special unknown graves. The other 177 are buried in three mass graves.
Six soldiers of the Jewish faith have unique memorials. Their graves are marked with natural stone steles. These steles feature inscriptions in Hebrew. They stand as a testament to the diversity of those who fought and died.
The Volksbund Kriegsgräberfürsorge maintains the German war cemeteries in France. This commission cares for cemeteries from both World Wars. In 2020, the VDK maintained 218 German sites in France. These sites hold the remains of over 960,000 German soldiers.
The Cimetière militaire allemand de Fournes-en-Weppes serves as a somber reminder of war’s impact. It reminds us of the human cost of conflict. As you walk through this cemetery, reflect on the lives lost. Remember the village that stood behind the lines.