#Cemetery
Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery
The Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery contains 2,958 Second World War burials, the majority Canadian, and 87 of them unidentified. In total, there are 2,793 graves of soldiers from the 2nd Canadian Army Corps, who lost their lives during the last stages of the Battle of Normandy in July to August 1944.
The last stages of the Battle of Normandy led to the capture of Caen and the closing of the Falaise pocket. The Bretteville-sur-Laize cemetery was established in 1944 to give a permanent resting place for the Canadian soldiers who fought during the battles around Saint André-sur-Orne (July 1944) and the battle of the Falaise pocket (August 1944). Those who had been temporarily buried close to where they fell were finally given a proper burial.
This cemetery marks a resting place for the Canadians fell during the second phase of the Battle of Normandy, whilst the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery situated near Juno Beach covers those who fell during the first phase in June to July 1944.
A Stone of Remembrance is place in front of the entrance arch, and a Stone of Sacrifice in the middle of the cemetery.
The cemetery is located on the N158 road between Caen and Falaise, about 14 km from Caen, in the commune of Cintheaux.