“Modern culture of remembrance” in the District of Düren: The statement of the President of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e. V. on the “Dance Theater” at the military cemetery in Vossenack on the occasion of Remembrance Day 2023 – a “fact check” (Published on 13/11/2024)
I. The “dance theater” over the graves of the war dead at the military cemetery in Vossenack on Remembrance Day 2023
As is well known, on 17 and 18/11/2023, the District of Düren under District Administrator Wolfgang Spelthahn (“CDU”, Convervative Party), together with the district association of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. (“German War Graves Commission”), whose chairman is Spelthahn, had a so-called “dance theater” performed on the burial ground of the military cemetery in Vossenack, in the course of which pupils from the neighboring Franziskus-Gymnasium danced to loud music on several stages set up directly above the graves of the dead.
This blog has reported on the process and its background.
While the local press coverage of Aachener Zeitung, in its usual, uncritical reporting in favor of District Administrator Spelthahn, stated [Link to archive] that there were “only a few skeptical voices” among those present – according to the newspaper, the around 600 pupils of the school were obliged to attend – the reality was apparently very different: Referring to “numerous letters from members and supporters” who had reprimanded a crossing of boundaries, even the President of the Federal association of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. (“Volksbund”), the 78-year-old former Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, felt compelled to issue a public statement on the “dance theater” (all citations are translated from German language).
II. The statement of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. on the “ Dance Theater ” from 08/12/2023
On 08/12/2023, Volksbund published a statement [Link to archive] under the title “Commemoration in Vossenack: ‘Borderline case that divides opinion’ – Statement by Volksbund President Wolfgang Schneiderhan on irritations after municipal event” (translated from German language).
This is remarkable and will be examined in more detail below.
The statement attributed to Mr Schneiderhan reads as follows (translated from German language):
“A commemorative event on Remembrance Day at the Vossenack military cemetery has caused irritation. The President of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e. V., Wolfgang Schneiderhan, has spoken out.
On 17 November 2023, St. Franziskus Gymnasium in Vossenack (North Rhine-Westphalia) organized a commemoration event for Remembrance Day in cooperation with the District of Düren, the municipality of Hürtgenwald and other partners. Volksbund was not a co-organizer at either federal or state level and was not involved in the planning.
Message: Peace is not a gift
According to the organizers, their intention was: ‘…to express … that peace cannot be taken for granted and is not a gift’. The military cemetery is – as is usual throughout Germany – in municipal care. It is run by the District of Düren.
The first part of the commemorative event took place in the monastery church, the second part at the Vossenack military cemetery. Four platforms were set up at the edge of the graves, on which artistically designed dance performances could be seen.
Intention is commendable
The event reached almost 900 people over two days. Volksbund considers the intention of reminding people of the importance of peace to be commendable. The school’s artistic program is even particularly impressive if you take a closer look at it.
Artistic performances occasionally take place at the many war gravesites abroad that Volksbund is responsible for maintaining. They are subject to approval and Volksbund’s federal office always ensures that distances to the graves are maintained, that reverent representations are made and that the dignity of the war dead is preserved.
Don’t hurt feelings
The performance in Vossenack under the responsibility of the District of Düren is probably a borderline case where opinions may differ. Although the content is not objectionable, numerous letters from members and supporters show us that some consider this boundary to have been crossed.
Indeed, such performances can hurt the feelings of relatives and the bereaved, regardless of the well-meaning intentions behind them. In such cases, the Volksbund recommends that the responsible municipalities and communities in Germany consider these possible effects with sufficient sensitivity and, in case of doubt, move performances to places with sufficient distance to the graves. In case of doubt, local Volksbund representatives should only participate on a private basis.
Wolfgang Schneiderhan, President of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.“
III. A closer look at the statement of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.
This statement deserves a closer look (all citations are translated from German language).
1. No involvement of Volksbund “at federal or state level” in the “Dance Theater”
First of all, the Volksbund President emphasizes that the “municipal event” was organized by “St. Franziskus Gymnasium in Vossenack (North Rhine-Westphalia) in cooperation with the District of Düren, the municipality of Hürtgenwald and other partners”. In addition, the District of Düren is given sole responsibility in other parts of the statement. It is said “to run” the cemetery and to be responsible for the performance. Volksbund, on the other hand, claims it was “not a co-organizer at either federal or state level and was not involved in the planning”.
This apparently intends to convey to the reader that Volksbund bears no responsibility for the content of the event due to its (alleged) lack of involvement in the organization of the “dance theater”. What is concealed, however, is the involvement of Volksbund at district level. As the District of Düren stated in response to my inquiry, the “dance theater” was a “joint event of the district association of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. and the District of Düren”. This means that Volksbund was involved in the organization of the event and therefore shares responsibility for its content. The fact that this involvement was omitted from the declaration of Volksbund President Schneiderhan is hardly a coincidence, but suggests a manipulative basic intention for the statement.
Incidentally, it should be mentioned that the alleged lack of involvement of Volksbund’s North Rhine-Westphalia regional association (“Volksbund NRW”) is also doubtful. This state association under the state chairman, SPD (Labour) politician Thomas Kutschaty, and managing director Stefan Schmidt is regularly involved in measures relating to the military cemeteries in Hürtgen and Vossenack. This was the case with the removal of the information board for Julius Erasmus in June 2021; Volksbund NRW was also one of the donors for the “permanent exhibition” on the Hürtgen military cemetery. According to the corresponding legislative proposal, Volksbund was also involved in the revision of the cemetery rules, which since September 2022 prohibit visitors to the military cemeteries in Hürtgen and Vossenack from laying down, for example, flowers or candles, without an exemption permit from the District. The removal of the memorial stone for Julius Erasmus on the Vossenack site in fall of 2022 is also unlikely to have taken place without the involvement of Volksbund NRW.
It is difficult to assume that the district administration in Düren, which otherwise apparently cooperates closely with Volksbund NRW, did not involve the latter on an event such as the “dance theater”, which was obviously controversial from the outset. It was not for nothing that the District of Düren did not deny my inquiry about Volksbund NRW’s knowledge of the location and content of the event, but only stated that this could “no longer be traced” because “no written records had been made in this regard”. Not only because this sudden amnesia of the protagonists at the District of Düren in their own affairs and the lack of written records has meanwhile reached a certain frequency, this already speaks for itself.
2. As part of the “Dance Theater”, “four platforms were set up at the edge of the graves”
In his statement, Volksbund President Schneiderhan also claims that “four platforms were set up at the edge of the graves” as part of the “dance theater”. This is apparently intends to give the reader the impression that the graves were not affected by it.
This is untrue as is clearly documented in this report as well as in the photos shown there and in the linked video recordings. Some of these photos are reproduced here, they show in particular the main stage in the middle of the burial ground
Firstly, there were not four but five stages on the burial ground, one of which, the largest, was erected directly in its middle. All of them were located directly above graves and by no means at their edge. In addition, two platforms were set up, also directly above the graves, from which sound and video recordings of the “dance theater” were made.
In his statement, the Volksbund President completely fails to mention the multi-coloured illumination of the burial ground and the loud music played on it, as well as the fact that the organizers allowed visitors to the event to trample over the graves in semi-darkness. It is hard to find a justification for these circumstances, which is perhaps why the President of Volksbund rather prefers not to mention them from the outset.
3. “Artistic performances occasionally take place at the many war gravesites abroad that Volksbund is responsible for maintaining”
In his statement, Volksbund President Schneiderhan also notes that “artistic performances occasionally take place at the many war gravesites abroad that the Volksbund is responsible for”. These were “subject to approval and the Volksbund’s federal office always ensures that distances to the graves are maintained, that reverent representations are made and that the dignity of the war dead is preserved.”
This reference possibly intends to convey to the reader that the “dance theater” is a kind of customary procedure that is also practiced at other military cemeteries. On the other hand, it maybe aims at creating the impression that such events were always carried out reverently and with respect for the dignity of the war dead – and that this was also the case in the context of the “dance theater”.
Based on the Freedom of Information Act, I asked the Foreign Office in Berlin for written information about the military cemeteries abroad where artistic performances have been held to date, when they took place and what the content of these performances was. In its response, the Foreign Office was able to name as many as three (!) military cemeteries where such events had been held. At least based on the described contents of these events, none is even remotely comparable to the “dance theater” performed in Vossenack.
4. Volksbund considers the “Dance Theater’s” content to be “not objectionable”
In conclusion, Volksbund President Schneiderhan admits that he has received “numerous letters from members and supporters” criticizing the event, but explains that from Volksbund’s point of view, the content of the “dance theater” was “not objectionable”. The event was “probably” a borderline case where “opinions can differ”. He emphasizes the “well-meaning intention behind it”.
Pay particular attention to the language used. For example, the “dance theater” is referred to as only a “probable” borderline case, calling into question this assessment terminologically already. Nor is it said that there are differences of opinion on the event, but that this “can” merely be the case (but does not necessarily have to be). This language conveys that the “dance theater” is only a “presumed borderline case”, signaling that it can legitimately be seen in one way or another.
According to Volksbund and its President Wolfgang Schneiderhan, it is therefore apparently a matter of individual taste whether one considers a dance event by young people on stages erected directly over the graves of victims of war and tyranny, with colorful illumination of the burial ground and loud music, to be acceptable or not. In any case, Volksbund and its President Schneiderhan consider the content of the “dance theater” to be “not objectionable”.
In conclusion, the organizers, including Volksbund, are advised to choose “places with sufficient distance to the graves” for future similar projects. “In case of doubt, local Volksbund representatives should only participate on a private basis”. With these measures implemented, Volksbund apparently sees itself as being off the hook, which seems to have been the main concern of this statement.
IV. Inquiries to the President of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.
For this article, I asked Volksbund President Schneiderhan to comment on different aspects of the “dance theater”, which he was not prepared to do. The corresponding questions and the meaningless “answers” from Volksbund, which once again speak for themselves, are presented afterwards.
1. The association statutes of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.
Volksbund is a registered association under private law (“eingetragener Verein”, short “e. V.”). In view of its field of activity, which is in the public interest, this is remarkable in itself and raises certain questions, without going into detail here. It is worth taking a look at Volksbund’s association statutes, which in particular define the purpose of the association and the guidelines for its activities.
The preamble of the – as far as can be seen – current association statutes dated 30/11/2019 states (p. 5, translation from German language, emphasis added):
“In memory of the millions of dead from wars and tyranny,
endeavoring to alleviate the suffering of the bereaved, and
recognizing that the legacy of these dead reminds all peoples of the need for understanding and peace,
Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge cares for the graves of these dead.
With its work, it aims to contribute to understanding between peoples and to the promotion and preservation of peace.
The basis of Volksbund’s work is respect for the inviolable dignity of man.
Human dignity extends beyond death.
This gives rise to the obligation to create war gravesites and to maintain them permanently as a constant reminder of peace.
At the same time, war graves work means striving for reconciliation and understanding between peoples and, in particular, promoting encounters and joint work by young people of all nations at war gravesites.
The motto of Volksbund’s work is:
Reconciliation over the graves – work for peace”
2. Compatibility of the “Dance Theater” with the preamble of Volksbund’s association statutes?
In a letter dated 17/04/2024, I asked Mr Schneiderhan to comment on the following questions with reference to the preamble of the Volksbund association statutes (translated from German language):
“1. In your opinion, is a ‘commemorative event’ such as the one held on 17/11/2023 at the Vossenack military cemetery with the participation of Volksbund, which allows hundreds of people to move freely in the semi-darkness over the graves of the dead of war and tyranny and to step on these graves in large numbers, compatible with Volksbund’s concern for the graves of these dead as propagated in the preamble of the Volksbund association statutes?
2. In your opinion, is such a ‘commemorative event’, which, in addition to illuminating the burial ground and playing music on it, includes dancing over the graves of the dead of war and tyranny, compatible with the inviolable dignity of man, which – according to the preamble of the Volksbund association statutes – is the basis of Volksbund’s work?”
On 18/04/2024, the Deputy Secretary General of Volksbund, Stefan Dworak, replied by email and referred to the statement quoted above, in which “your questions (…) are answered in detail (…)” (translated from German language).
3. Preserving the reverence and dignity of the war dead?
In a letter dated 23/04/2024, I followed up and asked – in addition to the two questions above – for further comments as follows (translated from German language):
„1. In your statement dated 08/12/2023, it says with regard to the event on 17/11/2023: ‘Volksbund was not a co-organizer at either federal or state level and was not involved in the planning’.
1.1 Was the NRW regional association of Volksbund not aware in advance of the planned event on 17/11/2023 and its implementation on the burial ground of the military cemetery in Vossenack?
1.2 Is it not true that the Düren district association of Volksbund was a co-organizer of the event in question on 17/11/2023? If this is true: In your opinion, to what extent does it matter whether Volksbund was a ‘co-organizer’ and/or ‘involved in the planning’ at federal or state level?
2. In your statement dated 08/12/2023, it goes on to say (emphasis added): ‘The first part of the commemorative event took place in the monastery church, the second part at the Vossenack military cemetery. Four platforms were set up at the edge of the graves, on which artistically designed dance performances could be seen.’
2.1 As you can easily see from the video recordings of the event already mentioned in my letter of 17/04/2024 (cf. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbnMBMwB-kOQ [Video 1] and www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4IOPf80zzo [Video 2]), a total of five stages were set up on the burial ground – four smaller ones at its edge and one large one in the middle –, all of them directly above the graves and by no means at their edge. This is shown in the following illustration (cf. video 2, min 30:11): […]
In addition, at least two platforms were erected on the cemetery, also directly above graves, as follows (cf. Video 1, Min 16:06): […]
In view of this, do you stand by your assertion that (only) ‘four platforms were set up’ at the event on 17/11/2023 and that these were located ‘at the edge of the graves’?
3. In your statement dated 08/12/2023, it goes on to say (emphasis added): ‘Artistic performances occasionally take place at the many war gravesites abroad that Volksbund is responsible for maintaining. They are subject to approval and Volksbund’s federal office always ensures that distances to the graves are maintained, that reverent representations are made and that the dignity of the war dead is preserved.”
3.1 In your opinion, were sufficient distances from the graves maintained at the military cemetery in Vossenack during the event on 17/11/2023?
3.2 In your opinion, are the performances on the burial ground of the military cemetery in Vossenack on 17/11/2023 ‘reverent representations’?
3.3 In your opinion, does the event on 17/11/2023 preserve the dignity of the war dead buried at the military cemetery in Vossenack?
4. In your statement dated 08/12/2023, it goes on to say (emphasis added): ‘The performance in Vossenack under the responsibility of the District of Düren is probably a borderline case where opinions may differ. Although the content is not objectionable, numerous letters from members and supporters show us that some consider this boundary to have been crossed.’
4.1 In your opinion, is the form of the event on 17/11/2023, i.e. its implementation on the burial ground directly above the graves with illuminating the site and playing loud music on it, objectionable?
5. Do you consider your statement of 08/12/2023 to be a sincere and respectful way of dealing with the numerous people who, according to your own statements, complained to Volksbund about the event on 17/11/2023?“
The managing director of the Volksbund NRW, Stefan Schmidt, replied in a letter dated 07/05/2024, apparently the Federal association of Volksbund had forwarded my letter to them. Mr Schmitt stated (translated from German language),
“that you have already received adequate answers.
We cannot add anything to this.
We therefore consider the matter to be complete.”
As a result, Volksbund has refused to comment on the theses of its own President. Once again, the style is hardly convincing, but – at least according to previous experience with the Volksbund here – it is by no means an exception. Facts are only acknowledged there to the extent and for as long as they correspond to and serve their own worldview, otherwise they rather prefer to duck away.
V. Assessment
The condition of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. in the year 2024 is more than clearly expressed in the statement of its President Schneiderhan on the “dance theater” and in the response to my questions in this regard.
With the statement by its President, Volksbund hastily attempted damage limitation, apparently not having expected any relevant public backlash to the “dance theater”. In any case, there is no doubt at least here that the event was known and approved in advance, at least by Volksbund NRW. Those who have known the historical Volksbund may regret this, but in 2024, events such as the “dance theater” correspond to the mindset there, impressively demonstrated by the statement of Volksbund President that the content of the event was “not objectionable” and his silence to my inquiries.
According to my experience, this behavior of Volksbund is by no means an isolated case. While the name of the association already conveys a universal “care” for war graves, as it were, which was presumably intended historically (see also the preamble to the association statute quoted above), the current practice looks much more sober.
The Volksbund, its structure and activities raise some interesting questions, such as the following:
Why is Volksbund organized as a registered association under private law (“e.V.”)?
Where does Volksbund actually point out the fact that – apart from a few exceptions – it is only responsible for war graves located abroad, while war graves located in Germany are the responsibility of the local authorities?
Why is Volksbund’s archive, in principle, not accessible to the public and access to its holdings, even for research on war graves and military cemeteries, left entirely to its free discretion? Why does Volksbund apparently grant generous access to these archive holdings for certain research projects, but not for others?
The public perception of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. is meanwhile in stark contrast to reality. Some of the site operator’s experiences with Volksbund will be reported here in more detail in the future.
(Head picture: German military cemetery Vossenack, October 2019)
Further articles on the topic “‘Modern culture of remembrance’ in the District of Düren”:
- The removal of the information board on Julius Erasmus from the Vossenack military cemetery in 2021 (03/10/2021)
- Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge NRW on the removal of the information board on Julius Erasmus from the Vossenack military cemetery in 2021 (17/06/2022)
- News on the removal of the information board on Julius Erasmus from the Vossenack military cemetery in 2021 (23/08/2022)
- The “representative for the care of the war grave sites Vossenack and Hürtgen as places of a democratic culture of remembrance and commemoration” (“Beauftragter für die Betreuung der Kriegsgräberstätten Vossenack und Hürtgen als Orte einer demokratischen Erinnerungs- und Gedenkkultur”) (16/11/2022)
- The ban on laying flowers and candles at the military cemeteries in Hürtgen and Vossenack (12/02/2023)
- Administrative Court Aachen denies grant of a preliminary order against the District of Düren “flower ban”, appeal to the Higher Administrative Court (23/03/2023)
- Laying of wreaths by the Administrator of the District of Düren at the Military Cemeteries in Hürtgen and Vossenack on Remembrance Day 2022 – or: Quod licet iovi, non licet bovi?(21/04/2023)
- District of Düren denies “flower ban” on Military Cemeteries in Hürtgen Forest to press and media (13/05/2023)
- “Flower ban” of the District of Düren on the Military Cemeteries in Hürtgen Forest: Higher Administrative Court of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia rejects the appeal against the denial of urgent legal protection (03/07/2023)
- Administration out of control – District now also bans photos of the fallen in uniform at Military Cemeteries in Hürtgen Forest (18/08/2023)
- The “permanent exhibition” on the Hürtgen war cemetery (20/12/2023)
- The removal of the memorial stone for Julius Erasmus by the District in September 2022 (06/02/2024)
- The distortion of remembrance on the national Remembrance Day (“Volkstrauertag”) (21/04/2024)
- The “Dance Theater” over the graves of the war dead at the military cemetery in Vossenack on the occasion of Remembrance Day (“Volkstrauertag”) 2023 (19/08/2024)
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