Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England London Giro the Dog's Grave

Giro the Dog's Grave

The final resting place of a German diplomat's beloved companion.

London, England

Added By
AmunyAnkhesenra
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Giro’s Gravestone   AmunyAnkhesenra / Atlas Obscura User
The grave of Giro stands outside the former German Embassy in London.   Iridescenti/cc by-sa 3.0
Giro’s Grave behind gates on Carlton House Terrace.   AmunyAnkhesenra / Atlas Obscura User
Giro’s Gravestone   AmunyAnkhesenra / Atlas Obscura User
  LordRivers / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Leopold von Hoesch, a German diplomat in the early 20th century, arrived in London in 1932 as the ambassador for the Weimar Republic. He took up residence at 9 Carlton Terrace, which was the German Embassy at the time. Today the building is a private home, but adjacent to the property is one small memorial to von Hoesch’s time: the grave of his dog, Giro.

By most accounts, it seems that von Hoesch was devoted to his pet Alsatian, whose death in February of 1934 was rather sudden—the result of a run-in with an exposed electricity cable, reportedly in what is now the Institute of Contemporary Arts. He was buried in the embassy garden.

The existence of Giro's grave was largely unknown until the 1960s when his small gravestone was discovered during construction work and moved to its current position at the base of a gigantic tree. The wooden and plexiglass case (which somewhat resembles a kennel) was added to protect the gravestone in the 1990s. The inscription reads: “Giro; ein treuer Begleiter!” translating to “Giro; a faithful companion!"

Extremely apocryphal accounts suggest that Giro received a funeral with full Nazi honors, though this was unlikely as von Hoesch was not a supporter of the new regime he served under following the Nazi takeover in 1933 until his death three years later. Regardless, the canine grave hidden on the former embassy grounds is considered the only Nazi memorial in London.

Related Tags

Dogs Gravestones Burial Places Nazis Politics Animals Graves

Know Before You Go

The gravestone is between the tall column holding the statue of Frederick, Duke of York and No. 9 Waterloo Place, just off the Mall.

It is located at the base of a tree behind an iron gate. It can be seen through the gate. The perspex cover can make viewing the gravestone difficult. 

Access is level if arriving from the direction of Pall Mall, and it can be seen at any time. 

Community Contributors

Added By

AmunyAnkhesenra

Edited By

jooniur, Meg, rbenn250, LordRivers

  • jooniur
  • Meg
  • rbenn250
  • LordRivers

Published

February 21, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Giro the Dog's Grave
9 Carlton Terrace
London, England
United Kingdom
51.505948, -0.132354
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Duke of Wellington’s Mounting Stone

London, England

miles away

The Molehill on The Equestrian Statue of William III

London, England

miles away

Seven Noses of Soho

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Nearby Places

The Duke of Wellington’s Mounting Stone

London, England

miles away

The Molehill on The Equestrian Statue of William III

London, England

miles away

Seven Noses of Soho

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Related Places

  • The gravestone.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Grave of 'The Great Lafayette'

    A magician and his beloved, pampered canine were buried together, within days of each other, due to a tragic twist of fate.

  • Stockholm, Sweden

    Pompes Grav (Pompe the Dog's Grave)

    A tombstone on the grounds of the royal castle marks the burial site of a Swedish king's beloved dog.

  • Mr. Barbo’s grave.

    Manchester, Vermont

    Grave of Mr. Barbo

    An unexpected canine grave atop a mountain.

  • Peggy Guggenheim and her dogs’ graves.

    Venice, Italy

    Peggy Guggenheim's Grave

    The only museum with its curator—and her pets—buried inside.

  • Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery

    Dedham, Massachusetts

    Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery

    This memorial garden is the final resting place of many beloved pets including that of a famous explorer.

  • The front of Barratt’s grave.

    Middletown, Connecticut

    Joseph Barratt's Grave

    The gravestone of an eccentric Connecticut doctor features dinosaur tracks and a pair of fossil tree casts.

  • Stockholm, Sweden

    The Grave of Morgan

    A simple stone remembers one of the most menacing horses in the Swedish military.

  • State Hospital Memorial Marker For Traverse Colantha Walker.

    Traverse City, Michigan

    Traverse Colantha Walker's Grave

    The world champion cow is buried within a historic old asylum.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.