Ruins of Oradour sur Glane a stark reminder of wartime France
France is a pretty country full of pretty little villages, but Oradour sur Glane is not pretty.
On June 10, 1944, possibly as a reprisal for the death of a German officer, Nazi troops encircled the village, then, quickly working toward the centre, rounded up every person they found and killed them. Next they burned the village. They also burned the bodies.
Not long after, France was liberated and the new French leader, General Charles De Gaulle, visited the site. He declared Oradour sur Glane should be left as it was.
At the entrance to the ruined French village of Oradour sur Glane, a sign implores visitors to be silent in memory of the 642 villagers killed by Germans during the Second World War.
Read entire article at Vancouver Sun (BC)
On June 10, 1944, possibly as a reprisal for the death of a German officer, Nazi troops encircled the village, then, quickly working toward the centre, rounded up every person they found and killed them. Next they burned the village. They also burned the bodies.
Not long after, France was liberated and the new French leader, General Charles De Gaulle, visited the site. He declared Oradour sur Glane should be left as it was.
At the entrance to the ruined French village of Oradour sur Glane, a sign implores visitors to be silent in memory of the 642 villagers killed by Germans during the Second World War.