Here at the Cimetière militaire allemand de Solers lie stories of war and remembrance. This German military cemetery in Solers holds the remains of 2228 soldiers. They fell in this region during the Second World War.
Let’s journey back to the tumultuous days of August 1944. Allied forces launched a major offensive between Le Havre and Troyes. The American 7th Corps advanced towards Soissons. They battled against the German 1st and 5th Panzer Armies. Many of the German soldiers buried here at the Cimetière militaire allemand de Solers died in these battles.
Initially the American 1st Army established a temporary cemetery west of Solers on August 30 1944. They buried their own soldiers and German soldiers there. About 2000 American soldiers were buried on the left side of the road to Soignolles-en-Brie. Roughly the same number of German soldiers were buried on the right.
After the war the American bodies were moved. They were reinterred at the Épinal military cemetery. The German section remained. It was administered by French authorities. The cemetery was expanded with graves from nearby regions. Bodies were brought from Troyes and Chartres.
A Franco-German agreement on October 23 1954 designated the Solers site as a permanent German military cemetery in France. After expansion the Cimetière militaire allemand de Solers was inaugurated on July 28 1962. Many relatives of the fallen soldiers attended the ceremony.
Each year a ceremony honors the German war dead. It takes place on the Sunday following November 11. Many dignitaries attend. Today the Cimetière militaire allemand de Solers serves as a pilgrimage site. German families come here. They remember the human cost and sacrifices of the war. Each stele marks the final resting place of six men.
The Club d’histoire de Solers completed a project here on January 21 2014. They documented the cemetery’s history. The Cimetière militaire allemand de Solers is freely accessible every day of the year. Take a moment to reflect on the past and honor those who rest here.