Commemorative tree-planting event at the Kalavryta Cemetery

On November 8th, 2025, the Kalavryta Cemetery will host a tree-planting event in remembrance of the victims of World War II and as a symbol of commitment to peace and justice.

About the event

The General Secretary of the Kalavryta Holocaust Victims Association, with the support of the Municipality of Kalavryta, invites you to participate in a commemorative tree-planting event at the Kalavryta Cemetery in Greece, which will take place on November 8th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

This event is organised as part of the ASCE Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe initiative, under the 2025 theme Gardens of 80, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and aligning with Goal 16 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Program

The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a memorial service for the fallen and widows of Kalavryta at the Chapel of All Saints, followed by tree planting at 10:30 a.m.

During the event, 80 new cypress trees will be planted to replace the old ones, reinforcing the cemetery as a natural place of remembrance and awareness. The Kalavryta Cemetery is deeply connected to the events of World War II, hosting the graves of 677 men executed during the German occupation on December 13, 1943, as well as the women who later contributed to rebuilding the community.

Through this event, descendants of the martyrs and the wider community will honor the past, celebrate resilience, and strengthen intergenerational commitment to peace and justice.

Event video

Severed: A Tribute to Peace

Torino, Italy, presents a moving video created as part of the WDEC 2025, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a powerful message of peace, memory, and reflection.

About the project

As part of the 2025 Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC), Turin, Italy, has unveiled a moving video production titled Severed, reflecting on the enduring impact of war and the urgent call for peace. The project coincides with the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and aligns with this year’s WDEC theme, Gardens of 80, which emphasizes Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – the goal 16 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Severed is a collaborative effort by the Associazione Nazionale Vittime Civili di Guerra di Torino, Piemonte e Valle d'Aosta, AFC Torino S.p.A., Liceo Coreutico Teatrale Germana Erba, and the Fondazione Germana Erba's Friends. The production blends a musical performance with video storytelling, utilizing historical archives from the ANVCG, the Monumental Cemetery of Turin, and the Ossuary Monument dedicated to civilian war victims.

Featuring young performers, the video encourages reflection on the devastating consequences of war, linking historical memory with a vision for a peaceful future. The project serves as a moving reminder of the human cost of conflict, urging viewers to consider past tragedies and the continuous importance of peace and justice.

Ultimately, Severed stands out as a great example of how art and memory can combine to inspire dialogue and reflection, giving voice to younger generations.

Video:

WDEC 2025 in Oslo

As part of WDEC 2025, the Cemeteries and Burials Agency of Oslo invites you to a cultural event at Alfaset Cemetery commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

About the event

This year’s WDEC theme honors 80 years of peace in Europe, focusing on European cemeteries as memorial sites celebrating peace, inclusion, and justice.

On Monday, May 26, 2025, from 17:00 to 19:30, a special event will take place at Alfaset Cemetery (Nedre Kalbakkvei 99, 1081 Oslo, Norway), with the spotlight on the Occupation Power’s Gravesites in Oslo.

Program

The first part of the event will take place inside the Alfaset Chapel and will consist of three interesting lectures on the history, significance, and personal stories connected to foreign and German war graves in Oslo.

1.) Lecture by Janne Wilberg: The Honorary Cemetery at Ekeberg and the German Burial Machinery. Janne Wilberg is the former City Antiquarian of Oslo and has 15 years of experience and engagement in working with military cultural heritage for the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency.

2.) Lecture by Haakon Vinje: On the Foreign War Graves in Oslo and a Deep Dive into Individual Stories. Haakon Vinje is the head of the War Graves Service in the Ministry of Culture and Equality.

3.) Lecture by Kristian Ilner (Outdoors at the German war cemetery): Stories of Three of the Buried Individuals. Kristian Ilner is a history enthusiast and a lawyer who works as a political advisor in the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions, responsible for education and competence. He has written five books in total. The story of the German soldiers at Alfaset is his fourth book.

The second part of the event will take place outdoors at the cemetery and will feature a guided tour along with compelling stories about individuals buried in the German war section, offering a deeper, more personal perspective on the historical legacy of these gravesites.

Additional information

If you would like to participate, please send an email to Wenche Elizabeth Madsen Eriksson at wenche.eriksson@gpe.oslo.kommune.no.
For more information visit www.aktuelt.oslo.kommune.no.

Photo credits:

• First photo (War graves at Alfaset Cemetery): Naomi Wilde
• Second photo (Commemorative ceremony at the German war graves): Haakon Vinje

1945-2025 Monuments and tombs tell the story of the Liberation

A digital itinerary featuring some of the notable Italian monuments and tombs that tell the story of the Liberation from Nazi-fascism.

This year, April 25th carries special significance. Not only because it's the 80th anniversary of Italy's Liberation from Nazi-fascism, but also because it's a symbolic date marking the end of the Second World War. Today, several armed conflicts are still ongoing, even not too far from our country, which oblige us to reflect on the Resistance, its protagonists, and the enduring meaning of the Liberation.

The 2025 project of the Working Group for the Historical-Artistic and Touristic Valorization of Italian Public Cemeteries of Utilitalia SEFIT, aims to highlight some of the monuments and tombs that tell the story of the Liberation inside and outside cemetery walls. This initiative is presented through a digital Google Maps itinerary titled "1945–2025: Monuments and Tombs Tell the Story of the Liberation", accessible HERE.

*Photo: Verano cemetery - Sepolcreto dei caduti nella lotta per la Liberazione, © Daniele.Brundu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

WDEC 2025 in Budapest

Discover the activities that took place in Fiumei Road Cemetery as part of the WDEC 2025 and the Gardens of 80 project.

New Flower Bed

As part of this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries and the Gardens of 80 project, a new flower bed was created at the World War II memorial, a frequently visited part of the Fiumei Road Cemetery. The composition, featuring a dove and the number 80, was made of flowers in two colors and symbolizes 80 years of peace following the end of World War II.

Live Image Flash Mob

On May 9, 2025, a special event took place at Fiumei Road Cemetery, where students came together to create a powerful visual message of unity and hope. Together, they formed the word “PEACE” in a coordinated human formation flash mob.

This formation was recorded by a drone. The footage was later enhanced with a musical background and shared publicly as a meaningful message of peace.

Message of Peace

Mr. Gábor Móczár, General Director of the Hungarian National Heritage Institute, took a short walk through the newly planted tree alley at Fiumei Road Cemetery, consisting of nearly 80 trees, and shared his message of peace in a brief speech.

Guided Walk

A special guided walk entitled "The Struggle of Our Ancestors Is Transformed into Peace Through Remembrance" will take place at the Fiumei Road Cemetery, commemorating 80 years since the end of World War II. During the programme, we will explore life’s works of the writers, poets, and visual artists buried here, seeking to understand how the themes of war and peace appear in their creative legacy.

Highlights of the walk include:

• The Memorial to the Hungarian Victims of World War II
• Poets Mihály Babits and Miklós Radnóti
• Sculptor György Zala and painter Jenő Barcsay
• Composer Ferenc Erkel

The walk took place on May 9, 2025, and was conducted in Hungarian.

The photo was taken at the grave of Endre Ady during the guided walk. His poem “Man Among Inhumanity” became an iconic anti-war piece during World War II.

Additional information

For any questions, please contact István Kovács at istvan.kovacs@nori.gov.hu.