Oradour-sur-Glane was a tranquil village nestled in the lush French countryside, situated along the River Glane, just beyond the suburbs of Limoges, the region’s capital. This peaceful community, home to more than 300 residents, was well-connected to the city by a tram line with several daily runs. Known for its livestock, the village also catered to visitors from the city, offering high-quality meals at its hotels and cafes. The local church was admired for its remarkable architecture, with its impressive ribbed vaults supported by four sturdy columns. Even the River Glane was a popular spot, attracting part-time anglers with its well-stocked fish.
As World War II raged on across France, Oradour remained largely untouched. The population gradually increased as refugees from other regions sought temporary shelter in the village. On the morning of Saturday, June 10, 1944, many people gathered in town for the market, while others came for relaxation. Local farmers were there for tobacco distribution. Meanwhile, Adolf Diekmann, commander of the Nazis’ 4th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, received orders to rescue a captured Nazi officer. He was instructed to take 30 hostages from the nearest town and use them for negotiation. Instead, he planned the complete destruction of the village.
Around 2 p.m., as the lunch crowd began to thin, the sound of German vehicles approaching along the Limoges road filled the air. Over 200 heavily armed Nazi soldiers rolled into Oradour. A few residents who had previously been displaced by the Nazis fled, fearing the worst. The rest stood in confusion and worry as the Germans herded them into the market square, claiming they were there to check identity papers. Systematically, the soldiers searched every house, forcing all the villagers, including the infirm, out of their homes, many still in their everyday attire.
By 3 p.m., everyone had been gathered. The Germans then separated the men from the women and children. The men were split into smaller groups and led to various barns and large buildings, each guarded by soldiers armed with machine guns and rifles. The women and children were confined to the church. In the barns and buildings, the men huddled together, uncertain of their fate. Their worst fears were soon realized. Around 4 p.m., an explosion shook the area—a signal for the soldiers to begin their massacre. The machine guns roared to life, and when they fell silent, the soldiers moved through the bodies, executing anyone still showing signs of life. They then covered the bodies with blankets and hay, setting them alight. Some men were still alive as they burned. Only five boys managed to escape, crawling through a hole in the wall and hiding in the cemetery.
By 5 p.m., the Germans turned their attention to the church. They detonated an incendiary device inside, causing panic among the women and children. As they tried to flee, they were mercilessly gunned down. One woman, Marguerite Rouffanche, managed to escape through a broken back window, followed closely by another woman clutching her child. When the child cried out, the Germans opened fire, killing all three. Only Marguerite survived, hiding wounded in a nearby pea patch.
The soldiers then looted and set fire to homes and businesses. Within hours, the once-vibrant village of Oradour-sur-Glane was reduced to ashes. Only one building remained—the home of Monsieur Dupic, the local draper. The Germans had spent the night there, drinking over 20 bottles of champagne before burning it down as they left on Sunday morning.
In total, 642 people, including over 200 children, perished at the hands of the 4th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment. In the days that followed, neighboring towns, unaware of the massacre, saw soldiers riding bicycles and scooters with the names of Oradour residents. Adolf Diekmann’s division was soon ordered to return to Normandy, where most of the division, including Diekmann himself, perished in battle.
After the war, General Charles de Gaulle declared that Oradour-sur-Glane should never be rebuilt. Instead, it would stand as a stark memorial to Nazi cruelty, a place where the hundreds of victims would be remembered with the honored distinction, “Died for France.”
