Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial

Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial
American Battle Monuments Commission

View of headstones and memorial
Used for those deceased 1944–1946
Established August 1944 (Completed 1956)
Location 43°32′12″N 6°28′24″E / 43.53667°N 6.47333°E / 43.53667; 6.47333Coordinates: 43°32′12″N 6°28′24″E / 43.53667°N 6.47333°E / 43.53667; 6.47333
near Draguignan, (Var), France
Designed by

Henry J. Toombs, Atlanta
(MONUMENT)

A. F. Brinckerhoff, New York (LANDSCAPER)
Total burials 861
Unknown burials 62
Total commemorated
 294
Burials by nation
United States: 861
Burials by war
Statistics source: ABMC Rhone Cemetery booklet

The Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial is an American war cemetery in Southern France, memorializing American soldiers and mariners who died in Second World War operations in that area. The cemetery covers 5.1 hectares (12.5 acres) within the city of Draguignan. The cemetery is named for the Rhone river and its watershed, where most of those interred fought and died. The cemetery adjoins the civilian cemetery of the city of Draguignan. It was started during World War II combat operations in 1944, with the memorials, landscaping, and improvements added after the war. The cemetery was built and is operated by the US government, with support from the host country of France.

Those interred died mostly in the summer of 1944 during Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France from the Mediterranean, which followed the Allied invasion of Normandy. This operation was designed to open a second beachhead and Allied combat zone in France, threatening the Axis units confronting the Normandy combat zone, and thus to accelerate the Allied drive into Western Europe. Those interred were mainly part of the U.S. Seventh Army, in particular the US 45th Infantry Division, the US 36th Infantry Division, and the US 3rd Infantry Division.

The cemetery is in the shape of an oval, with a perimeter wall of local limestone, a memorial with chapel, and some supporting buildings. Integrated artwork includes murals by Austin M. Purves, Jr.. The cemetery is administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

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