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Brittany American Cemetery

Discover the History of Brittany American Cemetery

The Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in France covers 28 acres of rolling farm country near the eastern edge of Brittany and contains the remains of 4,404 of our war dead, most of whom lost their lives in the Normandy and Brittany Campaigns of 1944.

Along the retaining wall of the memorial terrace are inscribed the names of 500 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The gray granite memorial, containing the chapel as well as two large operations maps with narratives and flags of our military services, overlooks the burial area. Stained glass and sculpture embellish the structure. The cemetery is located on the site of the temporary American St. James Cemetery, established on August 4, 1944 by the U.S. Third Army. It marks the point where the American forces made their breakthrough from the hedgerow country of Normandy into the plains of Brittany during the offensive around Avranches, France.

Brittany American Cemetery lies one and a half miles southeast of the village of St. James (Manche), France, 12 miles south of Avranches, and 14 miles north of Fougères.

Background

After the D-Day landings in Normandy, U.S. forces engaged in intense combat to break through German defenses.

By mid-July 1944, the Allies had secured St. Lô, setting the stage for Operation COBRA, a strategic offensive planned by General Omar Bradley to break out of the Normandy region and drive into Brittany.

The operation, supported by massive aerial bombardments, successfully shattered German lines, enabling rapid advances by U.S. forces. The campaign led to the capture of key towns, a significant German retreat through the Falaise Gap, and ultimately, the liberation of Paris on August 25, 1944. This marked a turning point in the Allied push toward Germany.

The Brest Naval Monument, overlooking the key naval base for U.S. operations during World War I, commemorates the achievements of the U.S. Navy and its role in securing victory.

Breakout, Pursuit, and Liberation Brittany Map
Breakout, Pursuit, and Liberation Brittany Map

Burial Search

More than 200,000 fallen service members are honored at an ABMC site. Search the burial database.

Trip Planning Resources

Photos

Contact Us

Brittany American Cemetery
Bel Orient
50240
Montjoie Saint Martin
France
+33 (0)2 33 89 24 90