[3] It is the last resting place of a number of German sailors killed in the Battle of Jutland during the First World War and subsequently washed up on and around the island, including the author Gorch Fock (real name Johann Wilhelm Kinau).

[4][5] The war grave on Stensholmen was established in 1920 and currently is the resting ground of 12 German sailors.

The graveyard is managed by the German Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge organisation.

[1][2] In June 2016 the island was visited by a Volksbund travel group in order to restore the graves in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the battle.

[6] In August 2020 the island was visited by the German sailing ship Alexander von Humboldt II to pay honour to the dead sailors.