A number of notable people of Berlin are buried at the cemetery; some have a grave of honor (German: Ehrengrab).

The northern part of the cemetery was built between 1945 and 1947 by Herta Hammerbacher,[1] and expanded from 1948 to 1954 by Max Dietrich.

[3] A war cemetery was created in 1953 for 1,183 Italian POWs, many of them unidentified, who died or were killed near Berlin.

[2] In front of the halls, two high walls covered with travertine symbolize the transition from life to death.

[5] Architect Ruegenberg, a student of Hans Scharoun, built simple rectangular elements on the walls and ceiling, based on a square module, and achieved "zurückhaltende Feierlichkeit" (reticent solemnity).