Memorial ceremony for 5,000 German soldiers in Pornichet: A day of remembrance

Memorial ceremony for 5,000 German soldiers in Pornichet: A day of remembrance

On Sunday, November 16, 2025, an impressive ceremony took place in the German military cemetery in Pornichet. Every year this memorial event is held on the Sunday after November 11th to remember the soldiers who died during World War II. Loud France Bleu The mayor of Pornichet, Jean-Claude Pelleteur, his deputy Arlette Loillieux and Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Weiss, an officer in the Bundeswehr, also come to pay their last respects to the fallen soldiers.

The Pornichet cemetery is a place of quiet remembrance and is home to almost 5,000 graves. Not only soldiers of the Waffen-SS and the Wehrmacht are buried here, but also Luftwaffe pilots and members of the Kriegsmarine. Many of them died in the intense fighting in the region, particularly during the occupation of Normandy. The men were usually buried four by four, regardless of their rank, and the range of graves shows a disturbing diversity: from simple soldiers to senior officers, there are numerous names here that were coined by the German war machine.

Culture of remembrance and community spirit

The ceremony is organized by the German Volksbund, which is actively committed to the preservation of memory and peace. What is particularly interesting is that, in addition to the soldiers' graves, there is also a separate area for civilian victims, which includes over twenty women and children. This underlines the humanitarian dimension of this annual event, which aims to recall the horrors of war and call for reconciliation.

How out Historical As can be seen, the cemetery contains many graves of soldiers from the “Das Reich” and “Götz von Berlichingen” divisions. These units were active in the parts of Mayenne, Maine-et-Loire and Deux-Sèvres. The soldiers were buried in standardized rows of graves, providing a clear yet sad sight as one walks through the rows of crosses. Among them are names like Johann Störh and Heinz Zietz, impressive biographies who, despite the tragic fate they cruelly suffered, have shaped the course of history.

A place for peace and reconciliation

The meaning of the ceremony is also relevant in the historical context. The military cemetery, considered unique in the Pays de la Loire, is not only a place of rest but also a symbol of remembrance and learning from the past. Many participants at the ceremony reported that it is important to continue such events in order to keep the memory of history alive and to heed the lessons from it in today's world.

The Pornichet cemetery thus remains a central place of remembrance and reflection, where in the years to come the ceremony of Deuil allesmand will bring together all generations to commemorate the fallen soldiers and those living together in peace.