spospe Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 In the March edition of MMM, there is a three page article on the tragedy of Oradour-sur-Glane in France. More information than contained in the article can be found at: http://www.oradour.info and specifically for details of the Aire, at: http://www.oradour.info/images/aire/aire1.htm http://www.oradour.info/images/aire/aire2.htm http://www.oradour.info/images/aire/aire3.htm and a town map at: http://www.oradour.info/appendix/oradmap1.htm Not a place for a 'fun' visit, but worthwhile all the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Hi, for anyone who has not been to oradour i would reccomend it, have been 3 times, once in the motorhome. It makes you think about the atrocities of war and the whole place has a feeling about it. Used the aire once pitches are big enough for 2 vans but people are reluctant to share. nice place though. casey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ina Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 We went about 5 years ago, very thought provoking... Ina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Brown Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I defy anyone to visit the place and not be totally moved. Only two people from the village survived, one was visiting relatives and the other hid in the fields when she saw what was taking place. The cemetry will bring tears to even the most hardened eyes. Well worth a visit if only to get up to date with what actually happened and at a time when the war was finished for the Germans. Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Its well worth a trip to the library and getting a book on the background reasons why this happened. Makes a little more reason why this senseless tragedy happened. Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter James Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Although it was moving and thought provoking, I learned a lot more from reading the website than from visiting the village. http://www.oradour.info/appendix/personal.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter James Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Arthur Brown - 2011-02-27 7:55 PM I defy anyone to visit the place and not be totally moved. Only two people from the village survived, one was visiting relatives and the other hid in the fields when she saw what was taking place. The cemetry will bring tears to even the most hardened eyes. Well worth a visit if only to get up to date with what actually happened and at a time when the war was finished for the Germans. Art She was in the church and escaped through the window when the massacre started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 Arthur Brown, considerably more than two people survived, one way or the other. Five men escaped from the Laudy barn, one woman from the church, three Jewish 'children' from their hotel and a schooboy from his class. In addition quite a few folk hid in their properties and got away under cover of darkness after the main killings had ended. Tonyishuk, http://www.oradour.info/ruined/chapter2.htm gives an account of the events of the day itself and http://www.oradour.info/ruined/chapter7.htm an account as to why the event may have occurred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbarian Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 We visited in November 2009. It was one of the most thought provoking and eerie places I have ever been to. I never saw a single bird flying or heard any sounds. I saw some sights and heard some stories during my 28 years in the Police but Oradour is very high on my list of 'horror stories' If you have the chance it is worth a visit to pay respects to those who lost their lives and their Families. barbarian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Barbarian On the subject of birds in Oradour, you might like to look at: http://www.oradour.info/images/titnest1.htm which shows some Great Tits nesting in a water pump, adjacent to one of the killing sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 spospe - 2011-02-27 9:24 PM http://www.oradour.info/ruined/chapter7.htm an account as to why the event may have occurred I read the book The Story of Oradour-sur-Glane, The story of the Massacre, as told by Robert Mackness. It maybe a bit more "faction", but a good read. basically the story is set around some very annoyed Germans, who were trying to locate stolen nazi gold, later taken and traced to Switzland. Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwyn Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 We have also visited this place and were very moved. I have a major criticism of the article in MMM though, as you enter through the gate there are signs that say No smoking, No eating and No Photographs, we respected this but the writer of the article did not, this is not a new sign either, we were only there last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homenaway Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 gwyn - 2011-03-04 8:57 PMWe have also visited this place and were very moved. I have a major criticism of the article in MMM though, as you enter through the gate there are signs that say No smoking, No eating and No Photographs, we respected this but the writer of the article did not, this is not a new sign either, we were only there last year. We visited a few years ago and found it very moving. If possible visit early in the morning when it is mostly empty of visitors. I don't recall any No Photographs signs except in the museum/visitor centre and it is possible to enter the village via the cemetery. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 The restrictions on Photography etc apply within the Centre de la Mémoire, but not within the ruins. In the ruins themselves you can take still and video photographs wherever you can walk (climbing over fences is not allowed). I personally have never seen people either smoking, eating or drinking within the ruins; it's not a place for a picnic. See: http://www.oradour.info/images/centrdog.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter James Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I saw the no photographs sign at the entrance when I went in last month. But it was being ignored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wills Wagon Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 We visited recently following advice from other motorhomers and it is the only place that sent shivers through us both. Such suffering and such shame on the Nazi's. Recommended to anybody who is in the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter James Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 As was pointed out on the website, the Nazi Authorities did not sanction what happened in Oradour and brought proceedings against the Officer in Charge (but he was killed in the fighting a few days later) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith T Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 We visited some years ago, and found the Aire a very useful place for parking the motorhome...... As previous contributors have said, you cannot fail to be moved, but we came away with mixed feelings. Firstly, as far as the cemetery was concerned - usually when visiting such places, there is an air of 'rest' and finality, but overall of peace....we did not find this here, and felt very much there was a feeling of anger, and no peace whatsoever. The words on the various tombstones etc were very interesting though and to us confirmed this feeling. As far as the ruined village was concerned, we could not quite make up our minds - yes, it's very moving, and very much historical as it was left, but really its an 'outdoor museum'......and it seemd odd to have the 'new' village adjacent, yet pretty much disconnected. We wondered how the residents of the new part react to the old.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minstrel Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 If you visit, try to get to the aire by mid afternoon, it gets more than full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Minstrel - 2011-03-09 9:11 PM If you visit, try to get to the aire by mid afternoon, it gets more than full. we stayed last August next to the TIC in small car park ,as the aire is some distance to walk. i would return, and if you can buy the book in the shop , it gives the full story. very moving place dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bojitoes Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 We visited Oradour today and have come away with the same feelings of anger that such an atrocity was committed and that no one was ever really punished afterwards . Did not the soldiers who carried out the massacre have wives and children of their own? How could they do such a thing? We were very pleased to see a number of parties of teenage French school children visiting the village and behaving in a very respectful manner, the story will, rightfully, live on. Bob PS Photography is allowed in all areas except the Memorial Centre- presumably for copyright reasons. :'( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Makes you think what people do to one another "for what?". Well worth a visit. Nice aire just off the D3 about 8-10 min away. sat nav' N45Deg56.130' E001deg01,530' Arrive early , this aire caters for large motorhomes. Souviens-Toi, Regards, Brendan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 Bojitoes - 2011-03-25 5:36 PM We visited Oradour today and have come away with the same feelings of anger that such an atrocity was committed and that no one was ever really punished afterwards . Did not the soldiers who carried out the massacre have wives and children of their own? How could they do such a thing? :'( The main problem with punishing people is to make sure that you punish the guilty and not the innocent. Who do you think was the guilty party in this case? And For the benefit of those of you who like your Sat Nav co-ords in decimal notation, the entrance to the Aire is: North 45.93570, East 1.02472 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kontiki Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 When we last visited the aire we were parked next to a German motorhome. We bumped into the couple in the village, the woman spoke some English but her husband didn't. I couldn't believe what the woman said (this was just after her & the husband had a bit of a laugh) she said her husband thought it was just like a film set 8-) . They seem to think the whole thing was just a big joke, we gave them a wide berth we were both so gobsmacked to think of anything we could say to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwyn Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 There is a clear sign at the gate to get into the village requesting no photographs, smoking or picnics this was in 2010 but most people choose to 'not see the sign' It is defimitely there and if anyone doubts this, we actually have a photo of the sign {taken from outside of course} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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