Removal of Nazi Symbols and Inscriptions on Headstones of Prisoners of War in VA National Cemeteries
Abstract
During World War II, hundreds of thousands of German, Italian, and Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) were held in the United States at various military installations. During this time, the U.S. military standardized gravestones for its servicemembers but not for POWs. Under article 120 of the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the United States must ensure that prisoners of war who have died in captivity are honourably buried ... and that their graves are respected, suitably maintained and marked so as to be found at any time. International law does not appear to further specify the style or content of POW grave markers. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), approximately 1,000 of the POWs who died while in the United States were buried in military cemeteries that have since been transferred from Department of Defense (DOD) jurisdiction to VA. In 2020, three of these POW headstones became a topic of controversy. The headstoneslocated in Fort Douglas Post Cemetery, Utah, and in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texaswere installed during the 1940s, and each bears the Iron Cross insignia, representing a Prussian and German military honor that included a swastika when awarded by Nazi Germany. Two of these headstones also have a German-language inscription that translates to He died far from his home for Fhrer, people and Fatherland. On May 12, 2020, the Military Religious Freedom Foundations Founder and President, Michael L. Weinstein, called on then-Secretary of VA, Robert Wilkie, to immediately remove the three World War II-era headstones located in the two VA national cemeteries. VA said it appears that these three headstones are the only ones bearing a swastika or a Nazi Germany-related inscription, and proceeded with the Section 106 Review process under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 12, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1170100
Entities
People
- Barbara S. Torreon
- Heather M. Salazar
- Mainon A. Schwartz
- Mark K. Desantis
Organizations
- Library of Congress