ORADOUR SUR GLANE

On June 10-11th 1944 the German  3rd Company SS "Der Fuhrer" Regiment. Part of the 2nd Panzer Division known as "Das Reich"  perpetrated the slaughter of Men, Women and Children in Oradour Sur Glane.

The people who died there have all been made martyrs, and have "died for France" after their names.

When you walk into the ruined village the first thing that hits you is the silence. you walk down the main street looking at the empty buildings, and the bullet holes in the wall where some of the men were executed.

The main square is deserted except for a car parked where it was left at that time.

In the side streets there are more cars which have been put together in yards.

You walk into the church and you can see the church bell. this has melted from the heat of the fire that the SS started, when they burnt the women and children alive in the church. There are bullet holes in the First World War monument that were made when several people tried to escape. There is also a Childs pram on the floor next to the altar, which is flattened and misshapen because of the heat.

The altar with the Childs pram

   The WW1 Monument in the church with 2 bullet holes showing

  The melted church bell