As above, I have just returned from France after visiting some friends.
We took the GF's A3 TDi and despite Mr Dunlops attempts to de-rail the whole trip, we arrived in one piece. (Both front tyres developed Bulges in the sidewall - Correct pressure - 1000 miles old etc)
We managed to get 2 PS2's from a French tyre place for 200€ fitted - Bargain 225/40/18's! he was selling cheap in order to fully stock the PS3 and the new sport tyre.
The weather was lovely, we left the UK at -2/+2 and when we arrived in the SW region of France it was +12, and had been getting warmer all the way. We spent a week with my friends and left yesterday morning and took a detour to visit a village called Oradour-Sur-Glanes.
The SS Panzer Division visited the village in June 1944, and when they left 6 hours later 642 people were dead.
I cannot express the feeling of the place, it has been left as it was in 1944, as a memorial to the dead. Sewing machines are still on tables, cars parked in court-yards, Bicycles hanging on walls, Tables and chairs litter the houses. The most poignant building was the Church, or what was left of it.
The SS herded all the women and children, and held them there, until they shot them, and set the place alight. The men were still alive at this point, having been shot in the legs, so they could not run etc, and so they could hear the women and children.
The village is NW of Limoges, and was virtually empty when we arrived. I have tried to convey the despair of the place, and have tried to explain each photo.
The Post office is one of the first buildings you come to. It was also the telephone switchboard. M Odette Boulliere was held and killed here, after she had been made to ensure they could still use the switchboard (manual in those days)
Various cars like this are still in the driveways
Village Garage
Plaque in memorial to the Doctor and his son (his son was also a Doctor and was out on a call at the time, but arrived back during the massacre, he was stopped and when he was found to be from the village he was killed just like the rest - he apparently tried to escape by giving his residence as another village, but was found out - only important people drove cars in those days.)
Doctors sons car, still where it was stopped by the SS in the village square, the road it was on leads out of the village and away from the troops. The Desourteaux family was very well known and respected in the local community as pillars of the establishment. This theme of service to the community was continuing today on the 10th June, as the Mayor's son Jacques, also a Doctor like his father and great-grandfather before him was out of town visiting a patient when the SS arrived.
Village forge, with anvil and vice.
Village well, some bodies were found in the well.
All below are of the church.
^^^^ Bullet holes.
Confession box.
Below are the Barbers shop including tables and chairs, and bright tiling.
The only glass left intact in the whole village was in a stable block, because the SS were using it as a billet, and it is still intact.
General pics.
The experience of visiting the village has left me wanting to find out more. I only saw it on a history programme whilst snoozing off several pints of Cider. So glad I paid my respects.
