St. Desir-de-Lisieux German war cemetery

St. Desir-de-Lisieux is a German war cemetery holding about 3,700 graves of soldiers from World War II. Red sandstone plaques mark each burial with the fallen soldier's name, rank, and date of death.

The cemetery was established in 1944 and gathers German soldiers killed during the Normandy invasion and the Falaise Pocket fighting. This period was marked by intense combat that transformed the region.

The cemetery draws international visitors who tend to graves and take time to read the names of the fallen soldiers carved into each stone. This practice brings people from different nations together in a shared act of remembrance.

The cemetery is located west of Lisieux in Normandy and is easy to reach by car or local transport. Visitors should move slowly through the rows of graves and maintain a respectful attitude, as this is a place of remembrance.

A memorial pathway connects this cemetery to an adjacent British war cemetery, creating a shared space of remembrance. Flags of several nations hang along this route, reflecting the international character of this historic place.

Location: Saint-Désir

GPS coordinates: 49.13958,0.16436

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:45