Recovered World War II soldiers
To this day, soldiers from World War II are still being found, exhumed, and accounted for. For some recovered soldiers, even identification is possible through the discovery of personal belongings or from their identification tags, combined with forensic analysis.
Story’s from different sources regarding recovered soldiers
Some might think that a search for World War II soldiers after all these years is not worth while, but less is true. Until today there are even First World War casualties recovered!
March 7, 2003 – Netherlands
Remains German soldier found.
In Loon op Zand, the remains are found of a German soldier who was killed during the Second World War. The remains were discovered after indications of a 78-year resident of Loon op Zand. A man had reported the story four years ago, but a search yielded nothing. Why he didn’t tell anyone for decades, is not known.
April 19, 2007 – Netherlands
Dead soldier found.
During excavations on a building site in Berlicum, human remains were found. It turned out to be a German soldier who probably was temporarily buried during the Second World War. Besides the remains, a helmet, glasses and boots were found.
The Royal Dutch Army Graves Service took over the remains for further investigation and the Soesterberg laboratory is trying to reveal the identity of this unknown soldier. After the investigation, the soldier will get a final resting place at the cemetery for German soldiers in Ysselsteyn, Holland.
July 12, 2007 – France
While working in Saint Laurent sur Mer on Wednesday July 11th 2007, construction workers have discovered the remains of a German soldier. Beside the skeleton, an identity plate, rifle with bandolier, a respirator and a belt buckle were found. A identification-tag revealed that the soldier belonged to an infantry regiment that was held in reserve. The remains were transferred to the authorities of the German war cemetery at La Cambe.
February 7, 2008 – Netherlands
Field Grave German soldier found.
A field grave of a German soldier from the Second World War was excavated out of the railroad embankment in Schuytgraaf, Arnhem. The likely young soldier died in its harness, with his helmet, his equipment and his shoes still on. He also still carried his identification-tag.
According adjutant Arnand Maringka of the Salvation and Identification Service of the Royal Dutch Army, the tag contains an army service number and an army unit to which the soldier belonged. The Royal Dutch Army will try to contact Berlin, to find out who this fallen soldier was. Probably the boy was not even twenty years young. According Maringka this was noticed by observing the skeleton.
The soldier is found during activities on the railway-embankment. They examined the embankment for presence of Second World War ammunition by partly excavating the embankment and re-strengthened for the construction of noise barriers along the new district. A metal detector beeped when it crossed the helmet of the young soldier. In Schuytgraaf were heavy fights during the Battle of Arnhem and in the months before the liberation.
March 17, 2008 – Netherlands
Last week the remains of a German soldier, now appears from the Second World War era, were found near Groesbeek. The Ministry of Defense made the announcement on Monday.
Souvenir hunters with a metal detector, found the remains of the soldier. Members of the Royal Dutch Army Graves Service took the remains for further investigation. It appeared to be a member of the German navy, but the soldier was not identified. According to the Royal Dutch Army, it is not surprising that it turned out to be a marine man because in the vicinity of Groesbeek during the Second World War, a battalion had established that consisted out of surplus naval personnel.
An identification-tag that every soldier carried wasn’t found. Also; no personal belongings were found. The Royal Dutch Army is now investigating if German is present on a so-called missing list.
April 3, 2008 – Netherlands
Remains of a German soldier found near Arnhem.
In Oosterbeek, an almost complete skeleton of a fallen German soldier from the Second World War was found. The Royal Dutch Army Salvation and Identification Service are examining the remains. The remains were excavated in the Westerbouwing area, along the Rhine river near Oosterbeek.
Besides the almost complete skeleton, also the soldier’s identification plate, his boots and a piece of his belt were found. The remains were discovered by a metal detector, during the search for the body of a British soldier.
According to eyewitnesses of the Battle of Arnhem, the British soldier was killed in the same area. When the identity of the German soldier has been confirmed, a search for next of kin in Germany will be started.
Around Oosterbeek, finding remains of fallen soldiers (usually allied) is not unusual, but the discovery of an almost complete body is quite particular. Around Westerbouwing, fiercely fought took place during Battle of Arnhem. Westerbouwing Hill overlooking the Betuwe to Nijmegen was of great strategic importance for the warring armies.
September 5, 2016 – Netherlands
Remains German soldier found near Arnhem.
While creating Park Lingezegen between Arnhem and Nijmegen, remains of a German soldier were found. This occurred while analyzing the area for World War II explosives.
The Bergings- en Identificatiedienst Koninklijke Landmacht (BIDKL) recovered the remains. They will try to identify the remains and notify next of kin and the remains will eventually be buried on the German Military’s Cemetery Ysselstein in Limburg (Netherlands).