WWII German and Italian Soldiers Buried in Massachusetts

Fort Devens Cemetery

Fort Devens, Massachusetts

 

 

The story for today's post is one I stumbled upon quite accidentally. As an Army Reserve Chaplain in Maine, I at times need to go down to Fort Devens, MA for training. This weekend was one of those weekends. As you might imagine, I had no prospects of exploring cemeteries while there. So what I am about to tell you presented itself unexpectedly. A fellow Chaplain had been asked to give the invocation and benediction for a memorial ceremony held in the Fort Devens Cemetery. I of course asked to tag along. What I discovered was that this was no regular ceremony. We had not gathered together to honor American soldiers, but rather twenty Germans and two Italians who had fought during WWII.

 

 

 

Now you may not know, and I did not know, that during WWII Fort Devens contained a POW camp. German and Italian prisoners captured over seas where sent here to wait out the rest of the war. From what I heard during the ceremony, nearly 5,000 were held here at one time or another. However, not all of them were fortunate enough to make it home. Twenty two died during there imprisonment and were buried here at Devens. Interestingly enough they were buried right along with the American soldiers and their families also buried in this cemetery. On a regular basis family, friends, and persons of Italian and German heritage gather here to pay homage to these men. Their  countries, once enemies of the United States, are now allies.

 

 

While attending the ceremony and viewing the graves, I discovered a few interesting things. One is a simple observation, and the other is an interesting story about one of these men told to me by one of the gentlemen present at the ceremony. The observation is that many of the men seemed to have died within a short time period. Conditions within a United States POW camp were likely pretty decent. It would seem that the men died of some sort of sickness or epidemic. Perhaps it was even the common flu. Part of my suspicion that this is the case is that one of the men buried there was a doctor. Perhaps as a German medical officer he had attempted to save the sick men only to find himself also debilitated. While I have not confirmed this it seems like a plausible scenario and adds interest to the story.

 

 

The second story told to me by one of the gentlemen present for the ceremony concerns one of the deceased men named Friedrich Steinhoff. According to the man Steinhoff was a U-boat (German submarine) captain. Knowing the war had been lost, he surrendered his boat off the coast of New York. While much of the equipment was destroyed to keep it out of U.S. hands one device escaped destruction. That device was something designed to launch a rocket from the submarine. This was technology the U.S. had not yet developed, and there is speculation that part of Steinhoff's mission was to launch a rocket at New York. The story he told me was that because of this Steinhoff was interrogated and placed in a prison near Boston. That is where he died of what has been deemed to be suicide. Supposedly, Steinhoff slit his wrist. However, the plot thickens since it is claimed that the slit wrist was that of his dominate hand. If he had done it to himself it is more likely he would have used the dominate hand to cut the wrist of the non-dominant hand. Apparently this has made some wonder if he was murdered, and of course if this is true who committed the crime. Was it the U.S. or Germans who viewed him as a traitor?

 

 

You will find Fort Devens Cemetery along Patton Road, just outside of the base area. It is a typical military cemetery with the stone looking pretty identical. However, in light of this discovery I hope to explore it more in the future. 







 

Belfast's Forgotten Cemetery

 

East Belfast Cemetery

Belfast, Maine



 

 

Recently I stumbled across a gem that was hidden in what is practically my backyard. For sometime now, I have called Waldo County home and more specifically the Belfast/ Searsport area. I assumed there were no new discoveries to be made. I was wrong. Hidden along the coast and down a driveway may be what is the oldest cemetery in the area. If you ask the locals (myself previously included) about cemeteries in Belfast they would likely point you in the direction of Grove Cemetery. Grove Cemetery is certainly the largest one in the area with expansive grounds and many interesting stones in it's own right. However, its oldest burials go back little further than 1830. Belfast on the other hand has a rich history dating back to the late 1700's. This is where East Belfast Cemetery comes in.

 

 

A view of Belfast today reveals that much of the town is on the south side of the Passagassawakeag River. This is where you will find the historic downtown. However, in its earliest days most of the people who called the area now known as Belfast home seem to have resided on the north side of the river. So it makes perfect sense that we would find the oldest burying ground here.

 

I first heard rumors of the East Belfast Cemetery from a coworker of mine. She informed me that she lives in one of the oldest houses in Belfast. The said house had at one time been a tavern and was even occupied by British troops when they burned Belfast during the Revolutionary War. She mentioned the cemetery as the resting place of the home's original owner. Obviously this peaked my interest. However, in her description it was hidden out in the woods. While this may have been the case at one time it seems to be better marked and cared for today. I discovered the cemetery's exact location through a book I have been reading recently about coastal Maine cemeteries. I could not wait to see it first hand, and with it being so close there was little to keep me away. I was not disappointed.

 

 

East Belfast Cemetery is unique in that it is primarily filled with stones that show the stone cutting art of the late 1700's and early 1800's. This is almost unheard of in Waldo County. As you enter the cemetery you will find the newer stones. Moving past them there seems to be a considerable open space (probably unmarked graves). Then, as you near the water, you will see rows of slate stones. Many of these slate stones hold wonderful examples of the winged death head so common at the time. Other's display the urn, and one stone has a wonderful example of a weeping willow. Inscriptions can be difficult to read due to wear, but many stones have been marked with flags indicating they are believed to be the resting place of Veterans of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. This is not a large cemetery so it won't take you long to explore everything. However, take note of the very interesting inscription written on a stone belonging to a woman by the name of Ruth Brown. It reads, "Also her infant encircled in her right arm."  The specific nature of this inscription is of great interest and a rare find for the period.

 

 

To get to East Belfast Cemetery simply take Route 1 and head in the direction of Searsport. The cemetery will be on your right about a mile after crossing the bridge. After you pass Jerry's Hardware look for the very tall airmail mailbox. You will want to take the unmarked driveway before the driveway with the airmail mailbox. About ten feet down the driveway you will see a path on the left leading into the cemetery. I highly recommend this exploration, especially if you are a local and have never been.