Historical Information (Volksbund)

3,394 German war dead from World War I are buried in this war cemetery. Department North The German military cemetery in Selvigny was established in April 1917 by the German troops to accommodate the wounded who had died in the hospitals. With the conclusion of the Battle of the Somme at the end of November 1916 and the retreat of the German troops to the "Siegfried Position" in February/March 1917, the site became an important staging area and hospital.

The majority of those buried here were victims of the so-called "Tank Battle of Cambrai" in November 1917 and the German counterattack in December. The German offensive in March 1918 and the retreat battles from the end of August to October 1918 again led to high losses. The last burials by the troops took place between September 30th and October 5th, 1918. The home garrisons of those buried here were located in almost all countries and Prussian provinces of the then German Empire. The French military authorities expanded the cemetery by adding German war dead from 31 municipal areas up to 45 kilometers away.