Eastern France is the place to be to follow that interest…we are in the zone between the occupied territory and Free France, with the demilitarised zone to our east. And the forbidden zone bordering Switzerland. Much to absorb here, and the traces remain everywhere.
Oh the North is interesting enough, we have some great Resistance Museums here, and I’m interested in the Channel Islands Occupation as well. I spent Easter two years ago in the Channel Islands, researching and speaking to people who remembered the Occupation, fascinating. I like to actually visit the historic places but I haven’t got as far as the Eastern areas.
3 Likes
Yes there are still people here (just) who remember. There is a small grotto in the cliffs above our village which we were shown by an venerable neighbour…which was where the villagers hid particularly while the Germans were retreating. Several villages round us were burnt, and many people shot with the same names as our neighbours. Which gives a rather immediate perspective on it all.
2 Likes
I read a lovely novel set there - The Soldier’s Wife - sorry can’t remember the author but it conjured up the awfulness of the occupation very well.
2 Likes
Near where we are there is the Memorial of the Resistance Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure in Charente, it was built at the end of the Second World War in memory of the martyrs of the 1465 Resistance fighters and Charente and Charente-Maritime fallen of honor. It is both a memorial of the Resistance and National Cemetery.
It’s huge and can be seen for miles around.
A further reference to the site.
2 Likes
There was a local man here who took part in a video describing the occupation, with some great videos of the Resistance attacks on trains etc, he only died recently but it was amazing to hear it firsthand. I meant to say, he was in the Resistance himself. He said it was great, there was good food.
2 Likes
Back on the lockdown subject, are churches open?
A friends house had a separate building (now a gite) which has a massive bread oven. Local history suggests this was used to bake bread for the resistance fighters which was then left discretely for them on the edge of the very extensive woods round here. Not a place to go digging apparently (besides being against the law) with metal detectors looking fo lost treasure… 
1 Like
I suppose if I had said “peoples having their women raped and mutilated” I would have passed my exam?
I trust we can look forward to this degree of scrutiny and analysis elsewhere. 
Yes, and there is even a section on the attestation so you don’t have to go to one within 10km.
at the risk of prolonging the side thread… I thought this was interesting…
In reply to John Strudwick.
I am furious, how dare you, we are not smiling in the UK with the deaths in France.
We do Not dislike the French nor indeed any other people’s.
We saw the EU for what it is.
Full name required Cooper as per T & C’s please
Thanks in advance
1 Like
I was a remainer and I am certainly not smiling at seeing a country I love suffering unnecessarily
2 Likes
I have just completed another 6 hours at our vaccination Centre, I & thousands like me are volunteers.
I am proud that we voted to leave the EU.
I am not proud that a fellow countryman (I think) Mr. Strudwick, would think we are smiling at French or any unnecessary deaths.
I am happy we left.
Be a good chap and complete the registration fully. @Cat
Still not 
there really is no need for a possessive adjective in there, as I said earlier. "Women being … " will do fine it dispels any ambiguity and is less clunky and archaic-sounding.
I see your post is a first on SF so maybe you haven’t followed the previous threads in detail.
I am certainly nor smiling at deaths and resent the fact you suggest I was.
My post concerns solely with the aspect of lock down. I and a few others suggested some weeks ago that the poor rate of vaccinations would most likely lead to a further lock down in contrast to others who argued that the EU’s more 'leisurely" approach was right, in part because of “vaccine hesitancy”.
I am a fervent supporter of the EU and its aims, but in this case they have got it badly wrong, but this need not have been the case had they moved quicker to acquire vaccines last summer/autumn like the UK. There was no intrinsic reason for not doing this.
As for smiling…as I’m sure you know in the UK there is not only a significant anti EU group but also a large group of EU sceptics who whilst not hard Brexiteers nevertheless less are always ready to criticise…the failure of the EU over vaccinations and further spring lockdowns…Italy, France Germany only serves to strengthen their scepticism, I did not suggest they are smiling at European misfortune or deaths.
Not at all sure where the comment about hating the French came from as the word French does not appear in my post nor did I imply that English peole hate them.
So to please read my comments again before posing erroneous arguments , to repeat what somebody else said earlier in this thread about a similar scenario:
"Please read my comments again before posing erroneous arguments
3 Likes
Please add your full real name as per our T&C before posting again. Thanks.
2 Likes