This village though is quite unlike any other.
Until 10 June 1944 it was a quiet place far from any conflict occurring in France in WW2.
On that Saturday an SS division entered the village initially rounding up residents for an 'identity check'. This soon changed to an apparent 'search for hidden arms and explosives'.
Women and children were marched to the church, the men gathered up in nearby barns.
Then the killing began; the men were shot - deliberately at low height so as to maim and not kill, that came later with the burning of the barns. The women and children had to suffer gas bombs, hand grenades, machine guns and eventually fire when the church was burnt.
The village was looted and set on fire.
Charles de Gaulle stated at the time that the village was to be left in its state as a memorial...
It was definitely a visit that made me think. Why?
The saddest thing is though that similar atrocities of war are still happening now. Now. In 2014.
To find out more this site here has lots of information about the history before and after the event.
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