The area comprising the American military cemetery in Margraten - somewhat more than 26 hectares of land formerly used for agricultural purposes - was liberated on 13 September 1944 by units of the 30th Infantry Division from the First American Army during their push to the Ruhr in the German Ruhr region. This cemetery was one of the first in which American soldiers who fell in action in Germany were buried. The Ninth American Army opened the cemetery for use on 10 November 1944. The Dutch government had previously taken possession of the ground and made it available for this purpose in perpetuity.

 

The architects Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson and Abott from Boston (Massachusetts) were responsible for the form of the cemetery and the monument, which have been a striking element of the landscape since 1960. The bronze group of figures for the tower was designed by Joseph Kiselewski from New York City, and his New York colleagues Clarke, Rapuano and Halleran were responsible for all the green areas. The cemetery was consecrated on 7 July 1960.

 

Tower
The cemetery is the only American cemetery in the Netherlands, and the 30 m tall tower is visible from afar. The observation platform can be reached via the 149 steps. The chapel is located on the ground floor of the tower. The bronze doors of the chapel are decorated with a relief from the 'Tree of Life'. The chapel, which is 15.5 m high, is lit by a beautiful set of ceiling lights donated by the people of the Netherlands. The lighting consists of a crown chandelier surrounded by smaller lights resembling the firmament. The silver flower tray on the oak wood altar and the wrought iron candlestick were also gifts from the Dutch nation. Three American flags as well as a Christian and Jewish flag decorate one of the walls.

  

Memorial Square
The entrance to the cemetery is located along the provincial highway (the N278) running between Maastricht and Aachen (Germany) just outside the built-up area of Margraten. The entrance road, flanked on the left and right by large grassy areas with trees, leads to the steps of the Memorial Square. The Memorial Square leads to the tower and chapel, behind which the graves are located.

The entrance to the Memorial Square is flanked on one side by the visitors building and on the other by the museum. The museum houses three land maps chiselled into Roman travertine, decorated with mosaics and bronze as well as enamel work (arrows, insignias etc.).

 

One of the maps depicts the military actions from the landing in Normandy until the end of the war. The second map shows the many airborne landings, and the third map presents a picture of the crossings over the Ruhr and the push to the Rhine. Detailed information is also present
explaining the maps.

Names
The Memorial Square, bordered on the east by the tower and with the 'mirror pond' in the middle, displays on its walls - in addition to the names of the places where the most important battles in the area took place - the name, rank, unit and state of 1722 MIAs (missing in action) from the Army and Air Force. Fallen in action in this area, their bodies were either not found or could not be identified. A star next to a name means that the person was identified/found at a later date. The MIAs came from every state in the USA with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, as well as from the District of Columbia. The walls, the tower and the pavilions near the entrance are made of English Portland stone.

 

 

In front of the tower, there is a group of bronze figures: a grieving woman with doves next to a new shoot growing from the tree destroyed by the war.

 

Cemetery
The cemetery is divided into 16 sections - A to P. The sections are separated by the promenade leading to the flagpole and by grass paths. The 8301 gravestones - bearing a Star of David for members of the Jewish faith and a Latin cross for all the others - are arranged in parallel curves. Most of the 8302 fallen soldiers - who came from every state in the USA, the District of Columbia, Britain, Canada and Mexico - gave their lives during the airborne and ground-based operations carried out to liberate the eastern part of the Netherlands, during the push through Germany across the Ruhr and the Rhine, and in the air battles over these areas. About 43% of these soldiers, who were originally temporarily buried either here or at other cemeteries in the area, have found their final resting place in Margraten.

In no fewer than 40 instances, two brothers were buried side by side, and one gravestone marks the shared gravesite of two unknown soldiers. The identity of 106 fallen soldiers could not be determined with any degree of certainty.

  

Vegetation
The vegetation in and around the cemetery was selected with great care. The promenade is flanked on both sides by characteristic American oak trees. Rhododendrons have been planted around the cemetery, and they bloom exuberantly every year around 'Memorial Day'. The long, curved beds to the north and south of the monument are planted with rose bushes, surrounded by box tree hedges against a background of holly. Hawthorne hedges, various types of oak trees and hawthorn trees complete the vegetation.

 

Memorial Day
Every year on the Sunday before the last Monday in May, the Memorial Day commemoration of the dead takes place at the cemetery, in the presence of many dignitaries from the Netherlands and other countries. During the ceremony, a wreath is laid and fighter jets salute the fallen by flying overhead in the so-called 'Missing Man' formation. The ceremony is open to the public and always begins at 3 p.m. No ceremonies take place at the American cemetery on the Dutch national day of commemoration for the dead (4 May).

 

Adopting a grave
Citizens have the option of adopting a grave. If they wish to do so, they can contact the Stichting Adoptie Graven Amerikaanse Begraafplaats (Foundation for Adopting Graves at the American Cemetery) Margraten, Postbus 22, 6269 ZG Margraten, The Netherlands. E-mail: st.adoptie.graven@margraten.nl

 

Opening hours
The cemetery is open every day all year round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cemetery is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. During opening hours, you can visit the visitors building for more information.

The manager of the cemetery can be reached by telephone on +31 (0)43 - 4581208.

                                     

                                   

Management
The American military cemetery of Margraten is maintained and managed by the 'American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).' This independently operating body of the American executive branch was established in 1923. The commission is responsible for commemorating the achievements of the American armed forces wherever they have served, by establishing appropriate memorials and by designing, building, managing and maintaining permanent American cemeteries and memorials outside the USA. They are also responsible for supervising the design and construction of American military monuments outside the USA by other residents of American nationality and other American organisations, both private and public, and for promoting the maintenance of these monuments and memorials by sponsors.

 

An overview of all the cemeteries and memorials managed by the ABMC can be accessed via their website: www.abmc.gov

Click here for a short film of the cemetery Margraten

Margraten Memorial Park

 

The Margraten town council is studying the possibility of establishing a ‘Margraten Memorial Park’. This park, which would have to be located near the American Cemetery, would be intended to breathe new life into the story behind the cemetery and its background. It would also contribute to focusing attention on the themes so closely intertwined with this cemetery, such as war, peace and democracclick herey.

 

For a summary of the plans and ideas surrounding Margraten Memorial Park: click here