Oradour-sur-Glane.
The original population was massacred on 10 June 1944, when 642 of its inhabitants, including women and children, were terminated with extreme prejudice by the 2nd SS Panzer Division ("Das Reich") under the command of SS-Sturmbannführer Adolf Diekmann.
The fact that Deikmann rolled up at the wrong village and only had orders to detain 30 members of the village of Oradour-sur-Vayres to pressure the Marquis (resistance) to release one SS-Sturmbannführer Helmut Kämpfe only makes it worse. The women & school children were herded into the church which was subsequently burnt down with any one attempting to escape being shot. The men meanwhile were split up and shot in the legs before being set alight with petrol. The village was later that night razed to the ground & left burning.
The German high command were outraged and even Rommel got involved & with a highly embarrassing disciplinary trial looming were let off the hook by the death of Diekmann and most of his division in the battle of Normandy a few weeks later. After the war, General Charles de Gaulle decided the village should never be rebuilt, but would remain a memorial to the cruelty of the Nazi occupation. Later in the '50s there were various trials but no-one was executed or even served a reasonable sentence. Bit like My Li massacre in Vietnam.
The place has a lot of visitors so jumping fences (however feeble) was not generally possible - every time I did it within a minute someone would be watching me........,.
Pictures - all black and white - There are a lot of burnt out cars here but I don't think anyone will come looking for the metal or spares.
Osg street panorama by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg 1768 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg post by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg rusted car park by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg rusting car by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg panorama by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg car vine by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg car boots by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg 2 cars in field by Infraredd, on Flickr
The Church
Osg church altar comp by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg church tower by Infraredd, on Flickr
Normally I would be up here like a rat in a drainpipe but there were too many people around.
Osg church tower stairs by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg confessional by Infraredd, on Flickr
Osg statue by Infraredd, on Flickr
Alas not everyone shares the respectful attitude - note the beer bottles & cans along with the money!
Osg well by Infraredd, on Flickr
Thanks for looking
Full set https://www.flickr.com/photos/infraredd/sets/72157647440450921/
The original population was massacred on 10 June 1944, when 642 of its inhabitants, including women and children, were terminated with extreme prejudice by the 2nd SS Panzer Division ("Das Reich") under the command of SS-Sturmbannführer Adolf Diekmann.
The fact that Deikmann rolled up at the wrong village and only had orders to detain 30 members of the village of Oradour-sur-Vayres to pressure the Marquis (resistance) to release one SS-Sturmbannführer Helmut Kämpfe only makes it worse. The women & school children were herded into the church which was subsequently burnt down with any one attempting to escape being shot. The men meanwhile were split up and shot in the legs before being set alight with petrol. The village was later that night razed to the ground & left burning.
The German high command were outraged and even Rommel got involved & with a highly embarrassing disciplinary trial looming were let off the hook by the death of Diekmann and most of his division in the battle of Normandy a few weeks later. After the war, General Charles de Gaulle decided the village should never be rebuilt, but would remain a memorial to the cruelty of the Nazi occupation. Later in the '50s there were various trials but no-one was executed or even served a reasonable sentence. Bit like My Li massacre in Vietnam.
The place has a lot of visitors so jumping fences (however feeble) was not generally possible - every time I did it within a minute someone would be watching me........,.
Pictures - all black and white - There are a lot of burnt out cars here but I don't think anyone will come looking for the metal or spares.
Osg street panorama by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg 1768 by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg post by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg rusted car park by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg rusting car by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg panorama by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg car vine by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg car boots by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg 2 cars in field by Infraredd, on FlickrThe Church
Osg church altar comp by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg church tower by Infraredd, on FlickrNormally I would be up here like a rat in a drainpipe but there were too many people around.
Osg church tower stairs by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg confessional by Infraredd, on FlickrOsg statue by Infraredd, on FlickrAlas not everyone shares the respectful attitude - note the beer bottles & cans along with the money!
Osg well by Infraredd, on FlickrThanks for looking
Full set https://www.flickr.com/photos/infraredd/sets/72157647440450921/
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