Trondheim-Havstein German war cemetery

Trondheim-Havstein German war cemetery is one of five central burial grounds for German soldiers in Norway, set on the Byåsen hillside in Trondheim, close to Havstein church. It is a quiet, well-kept place of remembrance that speaks to the scale of the occupation of Norway between 1940 and 1945 and to the people who died serving in the Wehrmacht.

What is Havstein cemetery?

It is a war cemetery founded in 1943 by the German military. At that time it was called the Trondheim-Byåsen military cemetery and was used to bury soldiers who fell or died in the Trøndelag area. Today it is maintained by the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, the German organisation that cares for war graves abroad.

What happened after the war?

In the 1950s, authorities decided to gather German war graves scattered across Norway into a few large cemeteries. Havstein was chosen as the permanent burial ground for the Trondheim region. Between 1954 and 1955, almost two thousand dead were moved here from smaller, temporary sites. The enlarged cemetery was formally dedicated on 25 August 1960.

How many people are buried here?

According to the Volksbund, 2,992 people rest at Havstein. Some remains were earlier returned to Germany, which is why older publications sometimes give lower figures. Those buried include soldiers from various units as well as people who died in captivity or in accidents.

What does the site look like?

The layout is restrained and calm. Grave slabs are set flat into the lawn, each one marking two people. Six large stone slabs list the places from which graves were relocated. There are no monumental memorials or propaganda-style features, only the green slope of Byåsen around you.

Who should visit?

The cemetery appeals to people interested in the Second World War, in remembrance culture, and in the landscape of wartime memory in Scandinavia. It also works as a quiet stop on a walk through western Trondheim. Usual cemetery etiquette applies: keep voices low, be respectful, and avoid photography that undermines the seriousness of the place.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Havstein cemetery? In the Byåsen district of Trondheim, near Havstein church, by the road Havsteinbakken.

Is there an entrance fee? No. It is a publicly accessible cemetery and the sources mention no charges.

Who looks after it? The German Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, working with Norwegian authorities.

When was it established? In 1943, and it took its present form when dedicated in 1960.

Is it the only one of its kind in Norway? No. Norway has five consolidated German war cemeteries, and Havstein serves the Trondheim region.

How long does a visit take? Usually half an hour to an hour is enough for a calm walk and a read of the tablets naming the original burial sites.

This is a place for reflection rather than entertainment. It pairs well with other Trondheim sites tied to the occupation and to postwar memory, which help show how the city lived through the war and how it remembers it today.