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Soltau, a small provincial town about 45 miles (76 kilometres) north of Hanover, adjoins Luneburg Heath, the pre-war training ground of the German army. The infamous concentration camp of Belsen lies about 8 miles (14 kilometres) to the south. Becklingen is a commune about 10 miles (17 kilometres) south of Soltau. The cemetery, known locally as "Englische Friedhof, Becklingen", is actually in the commune of Borkel; Kreis Becklingen, and is about a mile (1.5 kilometres) from Becklingen station. It lies on the west side of Route No. 3, the main Hamburg-Hanover road, 17 kilometres (about 10.5 miles) from Soltau and 34 kilometres (some 21 miles) north of Celle. Soltau is the nearest centre, and a taxi from the station is the best means of reaching the cemetery. Alternatively, one can go by train from Celle to Becklingen, and walk or taxi the mile from the station. The site was chosen for the position on a hillside overlooking Luneburg Heath, where the German surrender was taken. To this final resting place were transferred soldiers, sailors and airmen from isolated graves in the countryside, small German cemeteries and prisoner of war camps cemeteries, including Fallingbostel, within a radius of about 50 miles. The majority of the graves are those of soldiers who gave their lives during the last two months of the war.