On the banner: Never again
Joachim Gauck and Francois Hollande

The French and German presidents travelled together, on September 4 to Oradour-sur-Glane, site of a massacre committed by the SS in 1944.

"You're the dignity of Germany today, able to confront the Nazi barbarism of yesteryear," said François Hollande to his counterpart.
"I share your bitterness over the fact that the killers have not been brought to justice," Gauck replied, adding that, "Today, Germany is a country that wants to build Europe but not dominate it."

On June 10, 1944, Reich division came to this village in the centre-west of France and killed 642 inhabitants including 350 women and children who were burned to death in the local church. The ruins of the village are preserved in the state in which they were left.

Receive the best of European journalism straight to your inbox every Thursday
Tags

Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!

It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.

Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!

Are you a news organisation, a business, an association or a foundation? Check out our bespoke editorial and translation services.

Support independent European journalism

European democracy needs independent media. Join our community!