1

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial

American Battle Monuments Commission
2
3

LOCATION

The Lorraine American Cemetery is 

situated three-quarters of a mile north of 

the town of St. Avold (Moselle), France 

on Highway N-33. St. Avold, which lies 

28 miles east of Metz and 17 miles 

southwest of Saarbrucken, can be reached 

by automobile from Paris (220 miles) via 

toll autoroutes A-4 and A-32 in 4 hours. 

From the St. Avold exit of A-32, 

Highway N-33, cemetery signs will lead 

the visitor to the cemetery. The St. Avold 

train station, located 3 miles from the 

town, can be reached by rail from Paris, Gare de I’Est, in approximately 4 hours; taxicabs 

are available in the vicinity of the station. There are hotels at Metz, Saarbrucken and St. 

Avold.

HOURS

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except December 25 

and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the 

public, a staff member is on duty in the Visitors’ Building to answer questions and escort 

relatives to grave and memorial sites.

HISTORY

The U.S. Third Army resumed its pursuit of the enemy across France early in September 

1944, after a brief halt because of a shortage of fuel. Except at Metz, where extremely 

heavy fortifications and resistance were encountered, the U.S. Third Army advanced 

rapidly and crossed the Moselle River. By late September, Nancy was liberated and a 

juncture with the U.S. Seventh Army, which was advancing northward from the beaches 

of southern France, was made near Epinal. Upon the joining of these two Armies, a solid 

Allied front was established extending to the Swiss border.

Throughout October, the two Armies pushed aggressively eastward against 

increasingly strong resistance. The U.S. Third Army drove toward the Saar River and the 

U.S. Seventh Army into the Vosges Mountains, as the enemy fortress at Metz continued 

to resist. On 8 November 1944, the U.S. Third Army launched a major offensive toward 

the Saar River. During this offensive, the main fortress at Metz was encircled and it 
4

capitulated on 22 November. Its outer forts, however, did not surrender until 13 

December. Bypassing this resistance, the U.S. Third Army continued to advance, 

capturing Saarguemines on 6 December 1944. By mid-December, several bridgeheads 

had been established across the Saar River and the U.S. Third Army had begun 

preparations for breaching the Siegfried Line. Meanwhile on 11 November, the U.S. 

Seventh Army to the south launched an attack eastward capturing Saarebourg on 20 

November 1944. Moving rapidly, it outflanked, then penetrated the vital Saverne Gap in 

the Vosges Mountains. Sending the French 2nd Armored Division to liberate Strasbourg 

on the Rhine River, the U.S. Seventh Army turned northward advancing along the west 

bank of the Rhine against the defenses of the Siegfried Line, simultaneously aiding the 

U.S. Third Army’s operations to the north.

Throughout these operations, the U.S. Ninth Air Force and the U.S. First Tactical 

Air Force rendered vital air support to the U.S. Third and Seventh Armies, respectively, 

despite severe rainstorms and cold weather.

The progress of the two U.S. armies was halted temporarily by the enemy’s final 

major counteroffensive of the war, which began in the Ardennes Forest on 16 December 

1944. Officially designated the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign, it became known as the 

“Battle of the Bulge.” The U.S. Third Army moved quickly northward to counter this 

threat, as the U.S. Seventh Army and the French First Army to its south extended their 

lines northward to cover more front. The second phase of the enemy’s final 

counteroffensive was launched on New Year’s eve against the U.S. Seventh Army and 

the French First Army. The assault began as a drive for the Saverne Gap followed by an 

attack across the Rhine toward Strasbourg. After furious fighting on all fronts in bitterly 
5

cold weather, the last major enemy offensive was halted and the U.S. Third and Seventh 

Armies resumed their assault on the Siegfried Line. The line was soon broken and all 

enemy units were cleared from the west bank of the Rhine. In March 1945, the two U.S. 

armies crossed the Rhine River and began their drive into Germany. 

SITE

The cemetery site covers 113 1⁄2 acres of rolling landscape on the west edge of the Saar

mining region. Immediately to the north and east are natural stands of oak, pine and 

other trees; these have been extended by a planted enframement around the northeast and 

south sides.

A temporary American military cemetery was established on 16 March 1945 about 

one-half mile to the south of the present cemetery. The surrounding area was liberated by 

troops of the 80th Infantry Division on 27 November 1944. When the permanent 

cemetery was built, the present site was chosen because of its superior location, prospects 

and aspect. It is the largest American military cemetery of World War II in Europe. 

Buried here are 10,489 of our military Dead, representing 41 percent of the burials which 

were originally made in this region. Most of those interred here gave their lives during 

the advance to the Rhine and the advance across Germany in the spring of 1945. 

Construction of the cemetery and memorial was completed in 1960. 

ARCHITECTS

The architects for the cemetery and memorial were Murphy and Locraft of Washington, 

D.C.; the landscape architect was Allyn R. Jennings of Oley, Pennsylvania.
6

GENERAL LAYOUT

The Lorraine American Cemetery is 

entered from Highway N-33 at the west 

end of the cemetery. From the main 

entrance, a linden-lined avenue leads 

past the service and utilities area on the 

left and rises gently to the right toward 

the Visitors’ Building and parking area. 

A short distance southeast of the 

visitors’ Building, at the crest of the hill, 

is the memorial flanked by Walls of the 

Missing on either side. A flagstaff from 

which the American flag flies daily, 

stands in front of each wall. A broad 

flight of steps lined with yew hedges 

descends from the east front of the memorial to the graves area. A dual path enclosing a 

grassy mall leads one-third of the way through the graves area where it separates to 

encircle a wide oval grave plot. Beyond the oval plot, the paths continue and the ground 

rises to a knoll on which an overlook affords a prospect of the entire cemetery as well as 

of the countryside for miles to the west.

THE MEMORIAL

The memorial, which consists of a tall rectangular tower and the Walls of the Missing 

extending to the north and south thereof, is normally approached from the rear (west) 

side. This tower, 67 feet high, is of Euville limestone from the region of Commercy near 

the Meuse River some 70 miles to the southwest; its walls are carved with bold vertical 

flutings. The dark stone of its base is Belgian “petit granit.” On the west facade is a 

sculptured rounded bearing the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States. High on 

the tower are three superimposed angels of Victory each bearing a laurel wreath, 

designed by Walker Hancock of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

The entrance to the memorial building is at its east side through tall bronze doors. 

Above these doors, carved in Euville stone, is a tall (26 feet) figure of St, Avold 

extending his blessing upon those who rest here or who are commemorated on the Walls 

of the Missing. “St. Avold” is another spelling of “St. Nabor,” a Roman Christian soldier 

who was martyred about A.D. 303 in the reign of the Emperor Maximian; above his head 

is an Archangel with trumpet.

 

INTERIOR

On the far (west) wall opposite the door are five sculpture figures lighted from the north 

by a tall window. This group represents the eternal struggle for freedom, typified by the 

youthful figure in the center; flanking him are typical religious and military heroes who, 

throughout history, have taken part in this struggle – King David, Emperor Constantine, 

King Arthur, George Washington. The sculptor of these figures and of the exterior figure 
7

of St. Avold was Michael Lantz of New Rochelle, New York; all of the sculpture was 

carved by Jean Juge of Paris.

Beneath the five figures is inscribed:

OUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN

ENDURING ALL AND GIVING ALL

THAT MANKIND MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM AND IN PEACE

THEY JOIN THAT GLORIOUS BAND OF HEROES

WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE

The wall bearing the sculptured figures which form the background of the chapel is 

of Massangis limestone from the Cote d’Or region of France; beneath the figure is the 

altar of French green Antique Patricia marble upon which is inscribed this text from St. 

John X, 28:

I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH.

The stone pews are of Euville limestone.

The east, west and north interior walls are of French yellow Salamandre travertine 

limestone from west-central France; the base course is of Ruoms, a compact limestone 

from south-central France. The memorial floor is of Buxy, a French compact limestone 

from Burgundy, with green Antique Patricia marble inlays.
8

On the left (south) wall is a large map in colored glazed ceramic portraying military 

operations in Western Europe from the landings in Normandy until the end of hostilities. 

A smaller map inserted in its lower right-hand corner: “FROM THE MOSELLE TO THE 

RHINE” records the fighting in the region of St. Avold.

The maps were designed by Pierre Bourdelle of Oyster Bay, New York and 

Georgette Pierre of Paris from data furnished by the American Battle Monuments 

Commission; they were fabricated by Miss Pierre. Accompanying these maps are 

inscriptions in both French and English, of which this is the English text: 

ON 6 JUNE 1944, PRECEDED BY AIRBORNE UNITS AND COVERED BY NAVAL 

AND AIR BOMBARDMENT, UNITED STATES AND BRITISH 

COMMONWEALTH FORCES LANDED ON THE COAST OF NORMANDY. 

PUSHING SOUTHWARD THEY ESTABLISHED A BEACHHEAD SOME 20 MILES 

IN DEPTH. ON 25 JULY, IN THE WAKE OF A PARALYZING AIR 

BOMBARDMENT, THE U.S. FIRST ARMY BROKE OUT OF THE BEACHHEAD 

WEST OF ST. LO AND WAS JOINED ON 1 AUGUST BY THE U.S. THIRD ARMY. 

TOGETHER THEY REPULSED A POWERFUL COUNTERATTACK TOWARDS 

AVRANCHES. CRUSHED BETWEEN THE AMERICANS ON THE SOUTH AND 

WEST AND THE BRITISH ON THE NORTH, AND ATTACKED CONTINUOUSLY 

BY THE U.S. EIGHTH AND NINTH AIR FORCES AND THE ROYAL AIR FORCE, 

THE ENEMY RETREATED ACROSS THE SEINE.

THE ALLIED GROUND AND AIR FORCES PURSUED VIGOROUSLY, 

SUSTAINED BY THE HERCULEAN ACHIEVEMENTS OF ARMY AND NAVY 

SUPPLY PERSONNEL. BY MID-SEPTEMBER BRITISH AND CANADIAN 

TROOPS HAD ENTERED THE NETHERLANDS; THE U.S. FIRST ARMY HAD 

REACHED THE GERMAN BORDER; THE U.S. NINTH ARMY HAD FREED 

BREST; AND THE THIRD ARMY HAD REACHED THE MOSELLE IN FIRM 
9

CONTACT WITH THE U.S. SEVENTH AND FRENCH FIRST ARMIES 

ADVANCING NORTHWARDS SINCE 15 AUGUST FROM THE 

MEDITERRANEAN. THE OPENING OF THE PORT OF ANTWERP ON 28 

NOVEMBER MATERIALLY EASED THE LOGISTICAL BURDEN. METZ FELL 

ON 22 NOVEMBER AS THE THIRD ARMY MOVED INTO THE SAAR. ON ITS 

RIGHT, THE SEVENTH ARMY, AIDED BY THE FIRST TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 

DROVE TO THE RHINE AT STRASBOURG, WHILE FRENCH FORCES FREED 

MULHOUSE.

THE ENEMY LAUNCHED HIS FINAL MAJOR COUNTEROFFENSIVE ON 16 

DECEMBER IN THE ARDENNES. PROMPT TACTICAL COUNTERMEASURES 

AND THE SUPERB FIGHTING OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN 

BROUGHT THIS EFFORT TO NAUGHT. A CONCURRENT OFFENSIVE 

LAUNCHED BETWEEN SAARBRUCKEN AND COLMAR MET THE SAME FATE. 

DURING FEBRUARY AND MARCH THE WEST BANK OF THE RHINE WAS 

CLEARED IN A SERIES OF SWIFT MANEUVERS. THEREUPON, IN RAPID 

SUCCESSION, AMERICAN FORCES SEIZED A BRIDGE AT REMAGEN, 

CROSSED THE RHINE AT OPPENHEM, THEN STAGED WITH THE BRITISH, 

NORTH OF THE RUHR, THEIR MAJOR ASSAULT. SWEEPING ACROSS 

GERMANY, THE ALLIES MET THE ADVANCING TROOPS OF THE U.S.S.R ON 

THE ELBE TO FORCE THE COMPLETE SURRENDER OF THE ENEMY ON 8 

MAY 1945, 337 DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL LANDINGS IN FRANCE.

High on the wall above the maps, as well as on the opposite (north) wall, are the 

flags of these components of our military services: Air Corps, Armor, Cavalry, Christian 
10

Chaplain, Jewish Chaplain, Chemical Warfare Service, Coast Artillery Corps, Corps of 

Engineers, Field Artillery, Infantry, Medical Department, Military Police Corps, Navy 

Infantry Battalion, Ordnance Department, Quartermaster Corps, Signal Corps and 

Transportation Corps.

Above the doorway is a stand of two United States and two French national flags 

flanking a 13-star Betsy Ross flag. On the north wall are six color photographs of the 

American military cemeteries located in Europe.

Above these photographs is this inscription taken from General Dwight D. 

Eisenhower’s dedication of the Golden Book in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London:

HERE WE AND ALL WHO SHALL HEREAFTER LIVE IN FREEDOM WILL BE 

REMINDED THAT TO THESE MEN AND THEIR COMRADES WE OWE A DEBT 

TO BE PAID, WITH GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR SACRIFICE AND 

WITH THE HIGH RESOLVE THAT THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY DIED SHALL 

LIVE.

Flanking the door, to the right, is the dedicatory inscription:

IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS AND IN 

HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICES THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN 

ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
11

A French translation thereof appears to the left of the door. 

THE WALLS OF THE MISSING

Extending to the north and south of the tower and facing the graves area are the Wall of 

the Missing upon which are inscribed the name, rank, organization and State of 444 men 

of the United States Army and Army Air Forces. (It will be recalled that during World 

War II the Air Forces formed part of the United States Army.) These gave their lives in 

the service of their country, but their remains have not been recovered or identified. 

Their names include men from 43 different States. At the end of the walls is this 

inscription as well as a French translation:

HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF AMERICANS

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY

AND WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES.

THE GRAVES AREA

The graves area is reached by a broad flight of steps from the front of the Memorial. It 

consists of nine plots laid out about the axis in a symmetrical pattern, divided by 

gracefully curved paths. The headstones are set in straight in each of the plots.
12

These 10,489 Dead who gave their lives in our country’s service came from every 

State in the Union, and the District of Columbia, as well as from Puerto Rico, Panama, 

Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico.

One hundred and fifty-one of the headstones mark the graves of “Unknowns.” 

Among the headstones are 26 instances in which two brothers lie side by side. Among 

the headstones, also, is one which marks the burial of three men whose names are known 

and who were buried together; a bronze tablet covers the grave and records their names. 

There are three Medal of Honor winners whose headstones are inscribed in goldleaf.

These inscriptions are engraved upon the Euville stone pylons at the overlook:

North Pylon:

TO THESE WE OWE THE HIGH RESOLVE

THAT THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY DIED

SHALL LIVE.

South Pylon:

THROUGH THE GRAVE AND GATE OF DEATH

MAY THEY PASS TO THEIR JOYFUL RESURRECTION.
13

PLANTINGS

The whole cemetery is enclosed within a plantation of Scotch pine interspersed with 

group of beech, oak and maple. Color has been introduced not only by the flowering 

shrubs already mentioned but also by means of long borders of pink polyantha roses, both 

on the memorial terrace and flanking the central mall. North and south of the Memorial, 

large masses of Rosa rugosa and Coteneaster horizontalis link the terrace with the burial 

area, while further groups of Rosa rugosa in association with scarlet roses provide 

additional color at the intersection of the paths, north and south of the burial area.

Flanking the Memorial Tower on each side are massive hedges of European beech 

(Fagus sulvatica )backed by lindens (Tilia vulgaris).

In the graves area are informal groups of trees consisting principally of English oak 

(Quercus robur), honey locust (Gleditschia triacanthos), white and red flowering 

hawthorns (Crataegus oxycantha) and the pagoda tree (Sophora japonica). Flowering 

shrubs have been grouped in the open grass areas and include hibiscus, philadelphus, 

hydrangea, lilac and buddleia.

At the far (east) end of the central mall is the knoll and overlook, backed by a group 

of trees with shrub underplanting in which predominate the dwarf horse-chestnut 

(Aesculus parviflora), snowball hydrangea (Hydranges arborea), Cotoneaster 

horizontalis and St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum).
14

VISITORS’ BUILDING

The Visitors’ Building and parking area are situated at the end of the entrance drive, just 

southwest of the Memorial. It contains the superintendent’s office and a comfortably 

furnished room where visitors may rest, obtain information, sign the register and pause to 

refresh themselves. A staff member is on duty to provide information on specific 

locations in any of the Commission’s cemeteries, accommodations in the vicinity, best 

means and routes of travel, local history and other items that may be of interest.