Controversy Erupts Over Removed Plaque Highlighting Racial Segregation at US WWII Cemetery in the Netherlands
A wave of concern and criticism has followed the recent removal of informational panels detailing the racial segregation experienced by African-American soldiers during World War II from the Margraten Cemetery in the Netherlands. The cemetery, the final resting place for over 8,300 American service members who died liberating the southeastern netherlands, is managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).
the panels, which acknowledged the segregation faced by Black soldiers despite their crucial role in the liberation, were quietly removed in recent months, a move frist reported by the Dutch newspaper NRC. This action has sparked outrage amongst Dutch officials and historians, who view it as a concerning attempt to sanitize history.
The cemetery holds the graves of 174 African-American soldiers, and the removed panels were a recent addition, installed in 2024 after initial criticism regarding the Visitor center’s opening film in December 2023. The original film briefly showed Black soldiers digging graves but failed to acknowledge their broader contributions to building the cemetery or the discrimination they endured. Following concerns raised wiht then-US Ambassador to the Netherlands, Shefali Razdan Duggal, the ABMC added details recognizing the work of these soldiers.
Dutch historian Kees Ribbens, a Senior Researcher at the Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide studies (NIOD), expressed skepticism about the US explanation for the removal, suggesting the current governance may be uncomfortable acknowledging the history of racial segregation. He warned against rewriting WWII history, emphasizing its relevance to European understanding of the conflict. Ribbens also highlighted the deep connection between the local community and the cemetery, noting that families have “adopted” graves since 1945, tending to them in gratitude for the liberation.
Alain Krijnen, the mayor of Eijsden-Margraten, the municipality encompassing the cemetery, has formally requested the ABMC reconsider the removal and ensure continued recognition of the african-American soldiers’ stories. He plans to discuss the matter with the new American ambassador, Joseph Popolo. Eleven provincial parties have condemned the removal as “indecent and unacceptable” and are exploring the possibility of erecting a separate memorial to honor the Black soldiers outside the cemetery grounds.
The Margraten Cemetery was established in 1944 and later transferred to the US Government on a perpetual loan basis. Along with the buried soldiers, the site also commemorates over 1,722 missing American service members. the Netherlands, liberated on May 5, 1945 – now a national holiday - remains deeply grateful for the sacrifices made by American troops during the war.