Recently, I completed a project to update and refine data on OpenStreetMap. Using open-source intelligence (OSINT), I mapped and corrected the locations of more than 50 World War I and World War II German war cemeteries and individual graves in the Kaliningrad (lt. Karaliaučius, de. Königsberg) region.

Sources and Methodology

My main and official starting point was the Volksbund (German War Graves Commission) register and map: Volksbund Kriegsgraeberstaetten.

However, during the mapping process, I found that the coordinates provided by Volksbund were not always accurate - in some cases, only approximate village locations were listed, or the position had errors ranging from a few hundred meters to several kilometers. To solve this, I conducted a thorough OSINT analysis using multiple additional sources:

• Historical maps (such as German Messtischblatt topographic maps;

• Archival records and photographs;

• Satellite imagery and terrain analysis;

• Various other open sources and tools.

Through this research, I was able to locate all targeted cemeteries and precisely refine their positions on the map.

Current Condition of the Sites

The data gathered shows a clear picture of the current state of these historical sites:

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