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Reference.org
German War Graves Commission
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<p>The German War Graves Commission (German: <i>Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge</i>, pronounced [ˈfɔlksbʊnt ˈdɔʏtʃə ˈkʁiːksɡʁɛːbɐˌfyːɐ̯zɔʁɡə] ⓘ) is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of German <a href="/facts/War_grave/mFanpxVo">war graves</a> in Europe and North Africa. Its objectives are acquisition, maintenance and care of German war graves; tending to next of kin; youth and educational work; and preservation of the memory to the sacrifices of war and despotism. Former head of the <a href="/facts/Bundeswehr/J0yobW5P">Bundeswehr</a> <a href="/facts/Wolfgang_Schneiderhan_(general)/33nvbMwY">Wolfgang Schneiderhan</a> was elected President of the organisation in 2016, succeeding SPD politician <a href="/facts/Markus_Meckel/W5qdBARn">Markus Meckel</a>. The <a href="/facts/President_of_Germany/alla2gvH">President of Germany</a>, currently <a href="/facts/Frank-Walter_Steinmeier/3PjkeHyd">Frank-Walter Steinmeier</a> (SPD), is the organisation's patron. </p>