German War Cemetery Cassino
Not far away from Cassino, on a hill, Colle Marino, near Caira, 20,047 Germans lie in their cemetery: a stark black place, with a beauty nevertheless, where hypericum grows vigorously around tiers of graves, usually one for six men - just as they had to fight for one another, so are they laid to rest'. At the top there is an iron cross made from two girders; at the entrance there are statues of a man and woman grieving for their son. Few places convey so forcefully the anguish and waste of war.
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Below are scans of several Catholic death cards for soldiers who fell in the Battles of Cassino during 1943/1944. These type of cards, which are popular in Catholic countries, would have been purchased by the family and given to friends and family as a form of remembrance. They usually follow the form of a line at the top saying something like "To the memory of..." and "beloved son and brother" followed by the person's name and some personal details. As these cards are all for soldiers there is at least a mention of the regiment the person belonged to. Also there is usually a mention of decorations he received and places he had fought in. Occasionally the cause of death is also recorded. Finally there will be some form of prayer and possibly a copy of some religious artwork.
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Anton Auggenthaler was an Unteroffizier in 2./G.A.R. 95 (2. Company, 95. Gebirgs Artillerie Regiment ) and was a veteran of the campaigns in Poland, France, Krete, Serbia, Yugoslavia, Russia and Italy. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class and the "Kreta" wrist band. He was killed behind Monte Cifalco at a place called Capo Di China on 27th January 1944 and was originally buried at the 5.Gebirgs Division Cemetery at Gallinaro. He is now buried in Block 10 Grave 540 at Cassino.
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Karl Klampfl Was a 30 year old Oberjager (Stabsgefreiter - Staff Lance Corporal ) in a Gebirgsjager Regiment until his death on the 20th May 1944. He is now buried in Block 2 Grave 370.
Georg Lauterbach, from Erlau was a Gefreiter in a Fallschirmjäger Regiment and a veteran of the campaigns in France, Russia, Greece and Italy until his death at the age of 25 on 17th January 1944 at Cassino, where he was also buried (Block 11 Grave 520). Photo is from his Sterbebild. Sterbebilder
More coming soon.
Luca Di Mascio 2004