Nécropole Nationale des Gateys

The "Les Gateys" National Necropolis is dedicated to the soldiers of the French 2nd Armoured Division (2e D.B.), who died in the fighting to liberate the Orne area.
The division, commanded by General Philippe Leclerc de Hautecloque, landed on 1 August 1944 at Saint-Martin-de-Varreville in Utah sector. Its involvement in the fight to liberate French territory was highly symbolic. It took part in the fierce fighting that led to the encirclement of German troops in the Falaise Pocket. The division went on to play a role in the liberation of Paris.
This military cemetery - now a National Necropolis - holds the remains of 19 soldiers. The coexistence of Latin crosses with stele bearing the crescent of Islam and the Star of David is testimony to the spirit of union and comradeship of the 2nd Armoured Division.