Volkstrauertag (German for “people’s day of mourning”) is a public holiday in Germany two Sundays before the first day of Advent. It commemorates members of the German armed forces and civilians who died in armed conflicts, to include victims of violent oppression. It was first observed in its modern form in 1952.

Photo’s taken by Jo Segers during the comemmorations at the German War Cemetery of Lommel, Belgium in 2016.