GERMAN MILITARY CEMETERY IN SPLIT RECONSTRUCTED

( Editorial: --> 4139 ) SPLIT, June 28 (Hina) - A newly reconstructed Split cemetery, where 530 German soldiers killed during World War II were buried, was consecrated on Saturday. In the former Yugoslav state, the cemetery was neglected and all symbols were taken off. After the free Croatian state was established, the German Society for Care of Military Cemeteries was given the opportunity to reconstruct the cemetery. Uta Platzek, member of the Society's presidency, held a remembrance speech at the consecration ceremony. The ceremony was also attended by Commission for War and Post-War Victims chairman Kazimir Sviben, German Ambassador Volker Haak, honorary consul in Split Karlo Grenc and families of the killed Germans and their fellow fighters. The burial of remains of German soldiers killed during WWII in the wider Split area will continue. It is estimated that the remains of 3,200 German soldiers could be buried at the cemetery. According to Germany, there are more than 20,000 graves of German soldiers in Croatia. The Split cemetery is the fourth military cemetery to be reconstructed in Croatia. The other three are in Zagreb and Pula. (hina) jn rml/mbr 281627 MET jun 98