Burial of German Airmen
 

Chevington Cemetery has a number of war graves for German airmen, her is a newspaper report of their funerals:
Morpeth Herald, 9 February 1940:
"The Nazi airmen, whose bodies were washed ashore at Druridge Bay, on Saturday and Sunday, were buried with full honours, at Chevington, on Wednesday. There were nine wreaths from the R.A.F. personnel who were victorious in shooting down the German plane on Saturday, in an encounter off the coast.
The coffins were on a trailer drawn by an army lorry, and were draped with German ensigns. A guard of honour was formed by the R.A.F. Squadron who brought the machine down, and each coffin was carried to the grave on the shoulders of six airmen.
The dead men were Lieutenant von Bruning, Unteroffizier Herberg Panzlass, and Unteroffizier Remischki. The Rev.John Newbould, Amble Methodist minister, conducted the burial service. The burials were the first in the newly opened part of the cemetery.
A number of other bodies, some of them believed to be those of sailors, were washed ashore in the vicinity over the week-end."

Burial of german airmen
 

But were they Nazis?,
It was only natural at that time to assume all germans were.
Anyway, they were given a dignified send off, hopefully some of our lads got the same.
George.

Doubt they were Nazis, just young lads fighting for their country in an exciting branch of the military. According to the burial register, two were about 23 and one about 28.
It was a dignified send off, wasn't it?

The air force on both sides, generally speaking, remained chivalrous throughout the war. Not something that could be said for the Armies and Navies. Reason? Higher percentage of Officer class in combat roles? Some brotherhood between combat aviators whatever the nationality?

This was still only 5 months into the war when it happened. I wonder how attitudes changed as time went on?

To refuse conscription into the German armed forces was a 'capital' offence during the war, so I doubt they had much choice but to join up. However, over 50,000 did refuse and paid with their lives.

Hitler had been in government for 7 years by this point and only got there by the majority of German people voting for the National Socialist ideology and willingly going along with their policies.

Were they Nazis? Possibly not by choice but almost certainly by indoctrination.