Rheinmünster-Söllingen

Canada has played an integral role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since its inception on 4 April 1949. Canada's commitment to have four fighter wings in Europe resulted in the creation of the 1 Canadian Air Division with its Headquarters in Metz, France and the following Wings located in France and Germany:
    1 (F) Wing at Marville, France;
    2 (F) Wing at Grostenquin, France;
    3 (F) Wing at Zweibrücken, Germany; and
    4 (F) Wing at Baden-Söllingen, Germany.

Logistical support for the Division was provided by 30 AMB in Langar, England.

Following a restructure of the Canadian Forces in Europe, 4 (F) Wing was renamed Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Baden-Söllingen.

Rheinmünster-Söllingen is located about 7 kilometers from the former CFB Baden-Söllingen. The village cemetery is the final resting-place of at least 111 Canadian wives and children. Unlike most of North America, in most locations in Europe plots are not acquired in perpetuity but rather for a specific period of time, normally 20 to 25 years, after which the grave marker is removed and eventually the plot is reused. While 41 graves have been preserved the remainder were lost over time.

Canada has entered into a 50-year lease for the Canadian Section and arranged for enhanced maintenance of the headstones. A Memorial Cairn identifying the section as the last resting place of Canadian citizens and identifying those who were buried here and whose graves have been lost was installed during the summer of 2002.

Background Information on these sites has been extracted from: the Pinetree Line Web Site; the 2 (F) Wing RCAF Grostenquin, France Information Booklet (1957); publication 4 CMBG Canada's NATO Brigade, 1983, Moritz Schauenburg Gmbh & Co. KG.

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