La Cambe German War Cemetery
About La Cambe German War Cemetery
La Cambe German War Cemetery is the largest German military cemetery in Normandy, where 21,222 soldiers who died during the Battle of Normandy in 1944 are buried. The site was established on June 10, 1944 as a battlefield cemetery and redesigned in the mid-1950s by architect Robert Tischler. A 6-meter high central burial mound topped with a massive basalt cross contains 296 soldiers, flanked by two poignant sculptures of grieving parents. Visitors can explore 49 grave plots with flat dark basalt markers, each typically covering two soldiers. The visitor center offers a trilingual exhibition focusing on human suffering in war and reconciliation rather than military history. The 1996 Garden of Peace features 1,220 maple trees as living symbols of hope. Open daily with free admission; hours are 8:00-19:00 from April to October and 8:30-17:00 from November to March.
Interesting Facts
The cemetery originally contained both American and German dead in adjacent fields. After the war, American remains were transferred to the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, while the German section was expanded to receive over 12,000 additional soldiers from 1,400 burial sites across three French departments.
Each flat basalt grave marker typically covers two soldiers buried side by side, a space-saving measure that gives La Cambe a notably more compact appearance than Allied cemeteries. This contrasts with the individual white crosses at American cemeteries, reflecting different national approaches to war commemoration.
Among those buried here is Michael Wittmann, one of the most decorated German tank commanders of WWII, credited with destroying 138 tanks and 132 anti-tank guns. He was killed on August 8, 1944 near Cintheaux and his remains were only identified in 1983 through dental records.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Ancienne Route Nationale 13, 14230 La Cambe, France
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