The Öjendorf Cemetery is located in the Billstedt district of Hamburg and, with an area of approximately 99 hectares, is the second-largest cemetery in the city. Planning for the cemetery began as early as the 1930s, and it was officially opened on July 14, 1966. As a sprawling park cemetery, it is characterized by its abundant tree cover, expansive lawns, and park-like layout. Winding paths and a network of roads spanning approximately five kilometers connect the vast grounds. The cemetery is open to people of all nationalities and religions and offers various burial options, including lawn graves, anonymous burials, urn graves, and burials under trees. A crematorium and several ceremonial halls are located in the center of the grounds.
The Italian War Cemetery holds special significance, as it is the final resting place for 5,857 Italian victims of Nazi tyranny. In addition, there is an Islamic section of the cemetery with graves oriented toward Mecca, as well as separate areas for various religious and cultural communities. Numerous memorials honor people whose fates and life stories must not be forgotten. These include, among others, a memorial to Vietnamese boat people and a memorial tree for deceased vendors of the homeless newspaper *Hinz & Kunzt*. In this way, the cemetery combines the quiet beauty of a sprawling park landscape with diverse forms of farewell, commemoration, and remembrance.
