She spoke at a soldiers´ Cemetery in Ranville. Merkel thanked the allies for their sacrifice. "The 6th of June is not the final day of liberation, but it is a day to be thankful for the sacrifice the allies have made to enforce the liberation from national socialism."

About 2000 soldiers are buried in Ranville, 300 of them Germans. Merkel said Ranville is a symbol for the spirit of reconciliation and the pursuit of understanding that form the fundament of European unification.

Please pardon the rough translation, I´m quoting from german news agencies.