Putting World War I Soldier Graves in Order

The work on the gravesites dated back to World War I was initiated by the volunteer movement created in 2013 by the employees of the Technopolis GS companies with support from the GS Group Holding. Volunteer activities are focused on preserving the cultural heritage of the region and familiarizing local residents with the history of their homeland.

Kaliningrad Region is one of the few areas in present-day Russia where fighting took place during World War I. Thousands of soldiers of the Russian Imperial Army, who died the death of heroes on the battlefields of that bloody war, are buried here. That is why the Holding actively supports the volunteer movement that searches out and puts in order war gravesites in the Kaliningrad Region. GS Group is certain that the work is vital. It will help to preserve the historical memory of World War I and restore the link between generations.

The members of the volunteer movement work on preserving the memory of the heroic exploits of soldiers and officers who died on the battlefields of World War I. The activists study archives, put war graves in order, and hold cultural and historical events.

Approximately 450 people have participated in the volunteer movement since 2013. These include employees of Technopolis GS, residents of the Kaliningrad Region, St. Petersburg, the Republic of Karelia, and other regions of Russia, local history experts, historians, and students of history colleges and universities.

The volunteers go out to military burials nearly every week from spring to summer. Even the most difficult and time-consuming tasks are done by hand, without special equipment or hired help.

The volunteers have made over 200 trips since 2013 and have improved 14 World War I military burial grounds located in the Kaliningrad Region. They continue to take care of them to this day.

Restored Gravesites:

1. Wannagupchen – located 3 km from Kubanovka Settlement of the Gusev City District. There are 14 Russian and 32 German soldiers buried at the site.
2. Maygunishken – located 5 km from Olkhovatka Settlement of the Gusev City District. There are 3 Russian and 8 German soldiers buried at the site.
3. Marienhöhe – located 6 km from Olkhovatka Settlement, Gusev City District. There are 3 German soldiers buried at the site.
4. Sadweitschen – located at the Pervomayskoye Settlement, Gusev City District. There are 2 Russian and 20 German soldiers buried at the site.
5. Kattenau – located at Fumanovka Settlement, Nesterov District. There are 37 Russian soldiers buried at the site.
6. Ströpken – located at Ushakovo Settlement, 2 km from Ozyorsk. There are 48 Russian and 4 German soldiers buried at the site.
7. Enzuhnen – located at Chkalovo Settlement, Nesterov District. There are 8 Russian and 3 German soldiers buried at the site.
8. Klein Gudelen – located 4 km from Karamyshevo Settlement, Ozyorsk District. There are 46 Russian and 83 German soldiers buried at the site.
9. Schirgupönen – located 3 km from Podgorovka Settlement, Gusev District. There are 265 Russian soldiers buried at the site.
10. Ströpken-2 – located 1 km from Ushakovo Settlement, Ozyorsk District. Memorial to 95 Russian soldiers.
11. Werdeln – located 800 m from Dalneye Settlement, Nesterov District. There are 141 German and over 158 Russian soldiers buried at the site.
12. Gross Rominten – located at Krasnolesye Settlement, Nesterov District. There are 2 German and 4 Russian soldiers buried at the site.
13. Pogrimmen – located by Osipenko Settlement, Ozyorsk District. There are 80 Russian soldiers buried at the site.
14. Skarullen – located by Voskresenskoe Settlement, Nesterov District. There are 103 Russian and 1 German soldiers buried at the site.

There are hundreds of such burial grounds in Kaliningrad Region, so there is still plenty of work for the volunteer movement.

Over the years, volunteers found many unique relics dating back to World War I. Important finds include a metal box with letters, badges, newspapers, sets of bank notes and coins; a mess kit with manufacturer’s markings and those of military acceptance; tablets with the names of two officers of the Russian Imperial Army written in Russian. All such artifacts are submitted to the Gusev Local History Museum named after A.M. Ivanov and are available to visitors for viewing.

The Immortal Regiment of the Russian Imperial Army event is a tribute to soldiers and officers who died on the battlefields of World War I

Every year, to commemorate the Russian victory in the Battle of Gumbinnen, which took place on August 20, 1914, the volunteer movement holds a muster of the Immortal Regiment of the Russian Imperial Army. Local residents, local history experts, re-enactors, and activists of the Technopolis GS volunteer movement bring floral tributes, honor the dead with a minute of silence, and walk in the ranks of the Immortal Regiment at one of the restored military burial grounds. Everyone is welcome to take part in the event or to join the volunteer movement.