Oradour-sur-Glane, Martyred Village, France
On June 10, 1944, Waffen SS soldiers carried out a military operation against the civilian population of the small town of Oradour-sur-Glane, in Central France. They methodically massacred all the residents they rounded up and destroyed the entire town with fire and explosives. In all, 642 men, women and children were killed. The operation had no strategic or tactical value and was therefore mostly gratuitous. The decision was made immediately after the war to preserve the entire village as it was found by survivors and rescuers. It stands today as its own memorial to all of its victims. I visited it on the anniversary of the massacre on June 10, 2017 and was greatly moved by the experience.
Oradour-sur-Glane, Martyred Village, France
On June 10, 1944, Waffen SS soldiers carried out a military operation against the civilian population of the small town of Oradour-sur-Glane, in Central France. They methodically massacred all the residents they rounded up and destroyed the entire town with fire and explosives. In all, 642 men, women and children were killed. The operation had no strategic or tactical value and was therefore mostly gratuitous. The decision was made immediately after the war to preserve the entire village as it was found by survivors and rescuers. It stands today as its own memorial to all of its victims. I visited it on the anniversary of the massacre on June 10, 2017 and was greatly moved by the experience.