…and so, in an attempt to escape the low hovering over Montauban, we headed for the Dordogne. This cunning plan was designed to lift spirits, so in my quest for fulfilment I looked to my bucket list and saw with interest that one of the top items was a visit to a town nearby.
The town? Oradour-sur-Glane.
Those of you who know of this place may have realised that the only spirits likely to be raised there are those of the dead. On 10 June 1944 the German Waffen-SS encircled this town and killed everyone in it. 642 souls were massacred that day.
The men were herded into buildings and shot (190 died there), the women and 205 children were forced into the church where they were burned to death or shot.
A tram arrived in the town as the massacre was ending. Most on board were killed.
The town has been left exactly as it was found as a monument to those that died there that day.
Most of the nazis went onto be killed elsewhere in their retreat. Some did go to court for crimes against humanity. Many of them where French conscripted into the German army.
All were convicted. The French were later given pardons.
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Next stop, somewhere more cheerful. Any bar will do…
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