R.I.P. Bert

[frankthring]

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the infamous Capt. Erich Priebke, the SD officer connected with the biggest Nazi atrocity in Italy during WWII, had died in Rome.
Now I see that Bert Evans, last survivor of the Wormhoudt Massacre in 1940 has also passed away. This incident on the retreat to Dunkirk involved the SS
Leibstandarte regiment killing in cold blood over 80 men of the Cheshires and Warwicks and some Royal Artillery in a cowshed. In the great tradition of sergeants and sergeant-majors, the NCO`s threw themselves onto the stick grenades thrown into the barn in an attempt to save their men. In groups and with machine guns the SS went on to complete their slaughter, though 12 men incredibly survived.
One was Bert who was dragged from the barn by his captain. An SS man pursued them, shot dead the captain at point blank range through the head and shot Bert who slumped into a pond (thankfully he survived).

[one eyed jack]

It is amazing feats like that people should remember in extreme situations that the test of a mans mettle will define the kind of person you are

That man sounds like his was shining through

Respect!

[rgb]

But, as Noel Coward sang: "Don't let's be beastly to the Germans".

[Alex L]

...and lets not forget the unpleasant handywork of SS Obersturmfuhrer Fritz Knoechlein and his partners in crime, not far away at Le Paradis where a company of the Royal Norfolk Regiment fell into the wrong hands:



Possibly not as well known as the Wormhout massacre.

[frankthring]

Thank you, Alex, as a Norfolkman myself the incident you refer - committed by a detachment of SS Totenkopf soldiers - will never be forgotten. But the sad difference between the two massacres is that the SS officer you mention was tracked down and duly hung for his crimes whereas no one has ever been brought to justice for the Wormhoudt Massacre. The nearest ranking SS captain denied being there or issuing orders to kill British soldiers. Evidence was flimsy, key SS personnel had died in the Russian campaign and the old SS
man, whom one suspects knew more than he cared to tell, died in a cosy
Hamburg bed ten years ago.

[Alex L]

Frank, sorry, I did not mean forgotten by you personally, as I know from other posts, your extensive knowledge in this field, rather that it was a massacre not as widely known as Wormhout.

Very sad that none of those responsible were brought to account. I keep meaning to make a visit to the memorials when in France.

Although having been aware of the infamous Das Reich massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane in the period following D-Day, I have only recently read, Das Reich March of the 2nd SS Panzer Division, which gives a good account of their interrupted, 15 day instead of 3 day drive to the coast and the sad consequences! Classic SS stuff, hanging people from lamposts etc!

[frankthring]

In 1998 I was filming the first of what became my sex-fetish series, Pirate, for Private Video. Oradour was about 30 kms away and so I took Nobby, my lighting guy, and Dave Wells, the other sparks, with me to visit the place. If you get a chance to go do visit it..... We started off on a sunny afternoon in a jovial mood, but the horror of the place soon overtook us all. Nothing has been altered since that terrible morning of the massacre other than burying the dead. The wrecks of burned-out cars line the streets, machine gun marks splatter the ruined chancel of the church, the streets are still and it is little surprise that Oradour is the starting point - and conclusion - of The World At War TV series. Oradour remains a grim but important testament to the evil of Man.

[spider]

Some interesting stuff about the Oradour wartime massacre here..

[spider]

and here

[Snowy]

Incredibly moving stories.

And a stark reminder why the World must never be allowed to forget.

The Nazis' murderous ways knew no bounds.

Yes, I remember the opening and closing scenes of the magnificent 'The World At War'.

A must-see series if ever there was one.