Germany: Multiple memorial services scheduled for Volkstrauertag

Various municipalities and local associations across Germany have announced memorial services for Volkstrauertag, scheduled for Sunday, November 15, 2026. These events aim to honor victims of war and violence, including those lost in the two World Wars.

In Gummersbach, thirteen different memorial ceremonies are planned across various districts, including Dümmlinghausen, Lobscheid, and Unnenberg. In Völklingen, the city has organized several services, including a central ceremony at the Ehrenfriedhof featuring speeches by Mayor Stephan Tautz and VdK chairman Thomas Becker. Völklingen will also hold a memorial at a site dedicated to forced labor and will observe the day in cooperation with representatives from Forbach, France.

In the Rheydt-Pongs district, the local heritage association is organizing a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the local memorial. This site, constructed from lava stone, serves as a historical reminder of the fallen and missing from the community.