Martyred Village

sarah farmer has brought about the first difinitive book based on the martyred village. instead on focusing on the rather well known facts of the horrific massmacre, she gives great insight and back ground to the events leading up and following the massacre. as well as giving a personal insight to it, using her own photography, she gives a great narrative and all round factually based book which gives alot of hard to get material. for those who have visited the site or simply an enthusiast, you need not look further than this compelling, easy to read book.

Sarah Farmer deserves high praise for the clear narration and helpful explanations throughout "Martyred Village." Other historians ought emulate her writing. She first describes the slaughter of 10 June 1944, SS troops killing the civilians of Oradour. She then places it in the context of 20th century France. Only nine months after the massacre, Charles de Gaulle solemnly visits the ruins. Quickly, Oradour becomes a site of pilgrimage. Disruption comes in 1953, when twenty-one soldiers of the SS are brought to trial in Bordeaux. Fourteen are Frenchmen from Alsace, thirteen conscripted by the Germans. Upon their conviction in court, the Alsatians were freed by amnesty granted by the National Assembly, yielding to protests from Strasbourg. The author's account continues to 1997. I appreciate the author's use of French and German names, ranks, and expressions. She clarifies the roles of the political parties. She treats well the topics of mourning, respect, memory, pilgrimage, and religion. As someone interested in electric transit, I hope someday to learn more of the rural tram from Limoges through Oradour, whatever its corporate name.