SAINT-DESIR Calvados - 2 km west of Lisieux
The British tanks entered Lisieux and its cathedral
On 22 August 1944, the Battle of the Falaise pocket came to an end. The Allied forces launched a wide manoeuvre to push back the Germans on the river Seine. To the north the 1st Canadian Army progressed on a front line from Chambois to the coast. The 51st Highland Infantry Division and the 7th Armoured Division came in the vicinity of Lisieux. The Canadians met with a surprising agression from the 272nd German Infantry Division. In the ruined city, the progression was payed with fierce street fighting. On 23 August at midday the British tanks reached the Cathedral; in the evening the FFI (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur) made hunting for the last ambushed German snipers. A new phase of the war was starting. The XVth American Corps went up toward the river Seine through Dreux to cut off the retreat to the Germans. The 3rd American Army rushed on eastward toward Germany.
   
 
 

British War cemetery
598 soldiers are buried in this War cemetery : 569 British, 16 Canadians, 6 Australians, 1 New Zealander, 5 South-Africans and 1 American. The cemetery is planted with apple trees, and a small house accomodation for the visitors.
Situation : at the edge of the N13 road, west of Lisieux (follow the road-sign)

   
     
 

German War cemetery
The German military cemetery was installed during 1944 summer, it is close to the British cemetery. 3 735 German soldiers are buried there. One enters by a small columned house; red sandstone steles carry each four names of german soldiers, they emerge from iris flower bed.
Situation : near the British cemetery
 
   
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Lisieux city web site
http://www.ville-lisieux.fr
Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site
http://www.cwgc.org
Personal web site about D-day and Normandy battle
http://www.dday-overlord.com/index.htm
Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge web site
http://www.volksbund.de/

 
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