Has anyone visited Oradour-sur-Glane? I will never forget that first episode of 'The World at War' There is a new website at - http://www.oradour.org/ for the new centre. I would be interested to hear anyones views on this. Ryan
Hello Ryan, I was there in 1996 for the same reason as you are apperently going: the opening sequence of The World at War. It had been 'on the things to do' list for a long time. I found it unique (for lack of better words), there are no (few?) places like it. I think however that the experience might stand or fall with the time when you visit. I can imagine that the experience might be different when you go in the summer holiday season when there are women in short skirts and children about in large numbers, both distracting in their own way. I went in March and was there nearly alone so had time to reflect and could take good photographs and video shoots of empty streets. Regards, Marco
There are other places, in Europe and behind the old Iron Curtain, but probably none so monumentalised or on the ‘tourist trail’ as this one. No.9
Thanks for the feedback. It is indeed on my 'must do' list. I think the new visitor centre will be good, looks state of the art like In Flanders Fields so can only be a good thing. Best to try to avoid school parties aswell I reckon How did you get there Marco and how long for? One of the reasons I have not been yet is the distance compared with the Western Front. No.9 - can you expand on that tantalising little bit of information? I know I am sitting here wanting to know more sites of similar vein. Thanks Ryan
I was there a few months ago. As you will know, before you go through to the old village you pass a gallery with photos of attrocities committed in Europe by the Germans. It also has a cini-film of local residents before the war and then at the very end of the long gallery are two classroom photos from 1943 and 1944 I think. If that is not bad enough, then there is always the cemetery and the French custom of placing photos at the grave. The four Deschamps sisters - Claudine aged 13, Renee aged 11, Hugette aged 8 and Maryse aged 6 - fantastic looking children. A very tough experience. Also try next time to get up to Rom and visit the graves of the Operation Bulbasket men executed by the SS in July 1944. Jon aka Signals on 1914-1918.net
Ryan, I can't help you on the logistic side of this. We tricked the women into believing this was a weeks holiday in the home of the parents a coleage in southern France, well away from the WW1 and WW2 battlefields. Or so they thought... Ouradour made the whole week worth while. Regards, Marco
Just to follow up there is now a 'Battleground Europe' guide coming out in May from Pen & Sword. ISBN 184415100X
Originally posted by salientpoints@Mar 2 2004, 03:05 AM Just to follow up there is now a 'Battleground Europe' guide coming out in May from Pen & Sword. ISBN 184415100X Oradour already gets a major section of the "March of the Das Reich" Battleground Europe book that's been out for some time now. Personally, I think that the town itself speaks volumes and find that a visitor centre may be a little unnecessary. Anyway, here's a few photos from my last visit there - a very atmospheric place... B.
Evening all. One of the most horrific,incidents,ever,to show how spitefull man can be. A pointless exercise,against people who couldn't defend themselves. I can still remember getting angry,when i first read about this as a teenager. The village,is a fitting memorial and very moving. Many thanks for the photos,Bayernwald,and the link,Salient. Will let you know,what i think. All the best. Simon.
Thank you, everyone, for the information and pictures about Oradour-sur-Glane. I shall be checking the library tomorrow to see what has been written about the massacre. I am reminded of another place that sufferred a similar fate - Vassieux-en-Vercors. We visited it some years ago and were very moved (and shocked) by the displays in the village museum. The area was controlled by the maquis who were expecting an American drop of supplies but, the planes they heard on that July night, in 1944, were German planes towing gliders fulll of troops who landed on the plateau. Very few people survived and only part of the church was left standing. The cemetery outside the village has a continous video presentation and its entrance is flanked by the remains of the gliders. I believe that Maile was another village that suffered, too, in a series of German reprisal attacks. The only difference between then and now is, I suppose, that such things took time to enter the public domain in 1944, whereas they are being shown on screens in our homes just minutes after the horror has been perpetrated.
