Oradour Sur Glane. Dont miss it.

We paid a visit in 2012 having originally read about it many years ago in the Sunday Times colour supplement. A very erie site but so was Bergen Belsen when we went there. Oradour sur Glane is interesting in that everything has been left exactly as it was when the massacre happened. There are some pictures of the site in my blog here, http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/french_leave.html you have to scroll down a bit. All the small pictures can be clicked on to provide a larger image.

David

Sorry to say we had not heard of the place until we booked in at a site near Limoges and were encouraged to go to Oradour Sur Glane by the campsite owners. So glad we went. It is a stark and poignant reminder to what evil exists in the world.

David, Thanks for showing those pictures, they explained more than I could.  But that aside what a great record of your entire trip.  Great pictures too.

TF

Agree a place that everyone should visit, we went 3 years ago for those wishing to visit there is an Aire in the town for motorhomes and a small campsite at Brice Sur Vienna.

DK we lived in the village of Bergen (Belsen) for 6 years, did you drive into the village and pass the railway sidings that were used to transport the poor prisoners.

I know what is going to happen whenever I visit one of these places. I'm going to shed tears, but I always go as I believe the victims and those people who stood up to tyranny deserve to have witnesses for their suffering and actions. Immensely moving.

We have been to quite a few small, out of the way, places particularly in France and seen small museums set up to honour and remember the Resistance and I remember going to the Museum dedicated to the resistance put up by the Parisians. It's situated on the roof of the Montparnasse Railway station if you ever find yourself there. Mrs. WN and myself felt emotionally drained after visiting. It should be compulsory for all schools to visit these establishments.

Nice post, TF.

Tammygirl

We found Bergen Belsen a bit by accident. We were staying at a site at Engehausen which is not far from Celle. One day we were out for a ride in the car and I noticed the names Bergen and Belsen so set off to investigate.( Perhaps understandably the Germans are not keen to highlight WW2 sites)  I don't particularly recall the villages but do remember driving by a big army base. It was a very sombre place and having walked round where the bodies were buried we didn't even venture into the visitor centre. It was of particular interest to Margaret as it was where Anne Frank died and there was a memorial to her. Bergen Belsen was liberated by British Troops which must have been horrendous for them and I expect scarred many of them for years. Unfortunately many of the people liberated also died of disease and couldn't be saved. So near and yet so far.

David

The big army base was Hohne camp, home to many Regiments and where OH served twice once for 18mths with the Engineers before we married and then for 6 years after we married. Both our children we born in Hannover hospital BMH. 

Shame you didn't go into the visitor centre its very interesting, I agree a very sombre place, at one time you never saw or heard a bird while walking round.

We have met a number of former servicemen that liberated Belsen, they used to make trips out to visit it and as serving personnel the Regiments used to host them.

The training area all round the camp had lots of history to, the camp Naafi shop (The Roundhouse) was the SS officers mess, the Colonel of our Regiment lived in Hopp house formerly the home of the Commandant of Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Schloss Braderbecke (our Officers mess) was formerly Hitlers hunting lodge.

Lots of memories of our time there, despite its awful past it is a lovely area to live.

Edit: many of the Polish prisoners that survived settled in the area and in time worked and lived within Hohne camp, they had their own camp with a camp.