Memorial De Caen

The extraordinary success of the Memorial Museum lies in the determination of its originator, Jean-Marie Girault, senator and mayor of Caen for 31 years. On June 6, 1944, Jean-Marie Girault was 18 years old and a volunteer in the emergency teams of the French Red Cross, set up to rescue the local Caen population subject to bombardments. He came face to face with the horrors of war and with human nature, whether heroic, ordinary, or cowardly.

Caen, a liberated yet martyred city, deserved a tribute worthy of the suffering it had endured. This was achieved, but in the spirit of reconciliation that characterizes the Memorial Museum’s approach. This spirit, specific to the Caen Memorial Museum, will guide you through the various sections of the museum and plunge you into the very heart of 20th century history.