The German War Graves Commission reports that the remains of 21“perfectly preserved” First World War German soldiers have been buried at a service in France.
The soldiers were killed in 1918 after an Allied shell exploded near their position, which caused their dugout to collapse, effectively entombing the men.
The soldiers have become known as Die Toten des Kilianstollens, or ‘the dead of Kilian tunnel’.
French archaeologists unintentionally discovered the remains of the soldiers in 2011 at Carspach in Alsace.
The burial service took place on the 19th of July 2013 at the German Military Cemetery at Illfurth, France, with a number of French and German dignitaries in attendance.
Date of press release publication: 19/07/2013
Images courtesy of the German War Graves Commission; Axel Vogel
Source: German War Graves Commission website
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News