Kahm military cemetery

" Curious to discover unusual places linked to the First World War? Visit this Unesco-listed German military cemetery under forest cover. "

The Kahm cemetery overlooks the villages of Le Bonhomme, Lapoutroie and Orbey and was created by the Bavarians led by Lieutenant Kahm in January 1916, due to a lack of space at the top of the Tête des Faux for burying the dead.

It is terraced under forest cover and partially surrounded by local granite stone walls, but has no physical boundary at the top to allow for gradual expansion. In keeping with tradition, the cemetery is laid out on a sloping site with terraces linked by staircases. The dry-stone walls are fitted with niches for lamps or religious statuettes for the Way of the Cross.

A first, imposing staircase leads up to a masonry portico with a frame and tiled roof. On the left, a stone bench invites meditation, set against a low wall that arcs around a tree. Les stèles sont gravées et richemen ornées. Elle répartissent sur le pourtour le long des murs. Au fond se trouvent des plaques gravées insérées dans le mur d'enceinte. It is organized around a chapel.

For the Germans, the cemetery was called " Hexenweiherkirchhof " after the pond " Hexenweiher " German for " diviner " but meaning "witch".

It occupied a rear-front position. At first glance, this cemetery appears isolated, but in reality it is integrated into the shelter network system and established above an underground field hospital.