Date of publication: 22/02/2013
The British Commonwealth War Graves Commission has signed separate agreements with the French Mission du Centenaire and the German Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. (VDK), to work in co-operation with them in order to mark the Centenary of the First World War.
The British Commonwealth War Graves Commission is charged by the British Government with the maintenance of war memorials and sites of commemoration, as well as archival records, relating to the Commonwealth of nations.
The French Mission du Centenaire, created by the French Government, is responsible for organising, supporting and promoting a programme of commemoration for the Centenary of the First World War in France.
The German Government run Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V, manages the burial of overseas German war dead.
A ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ was signed between the British CWGC and German VDK on 15th February 2013.
The aim of this memorandum is to “establish good working relationships with key stakeholders such as the MoD [British Ministry of Defence], Commonwealth governments, and German, French and Belgian governments”.
The CWGC and the French Mission du Centenaire signed a separate agreement on 19th February 2013.
The aim of the agreement is that it “will enable the successful exchange of information between the two organisations and help to further facilitate the work of the CWGC in France during the centenary period”.
The two organisations have also expressed intentions to work together in exchanging information, “remembrance related tourism” and on educational co-operation.
To read full details of the agreements, visit the Commonwealth War Graves website here.
Images courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves website.
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News