Until his retirement Jan was head of the mail room at Cap Gemini. He adopted a grave in 2012.

“I was born just after the war, in 1946. But I heard a lot from my parents and elder brother who went through it. I watch everything about the Second World War that I can. And so years ago I saw a documentary about the Soviet Military Cemetery.

I don’t have a thing for the Soviet Union or Russia per se, but this documentary – in which Remco Reiding talked about tracing relatives and grave visits – made a big impression. What happened to the Jews is awful, but I did not know that millions of Russians had died also. Now they weren’t exactly blue-eyed boys, but indirectly they too died for our freedom.”

One thing led to another with Jan. “I began to immerse myself in the topic, visited meetings, adopted a grave and became a volunteer.

With the aid of my wife I regularly sell stuff for the Soviet Military Cemetery Foundation (and another good cause) at jumble sales, at adopters’ days and to societies. I split the takings nicely down the middle. Each foundation received around 750 euros in the past year. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to do much this year due to the corona restrictions. But as soon as they are lifted I’m back in the saddle.”

Jan is very resourceful and remains a welcome guest at meetings of the foundation. “Placing and removing flowers at commemorations, setting candles on the evening of lights… there’s enough left to be done. Not much is known about the grave I have adopted but I’m hoping that some day relevant information will come to light.”

In this section, donors of the Soviet War Cemetery Foundation will have their say. They speak in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the Soviet War Cemetery Foundation. The Foundation is an apolitical, independent organization.