German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday underlined his “dismay”, his “affliction” and his “sense of shame” in Oradour-sur-Glane. This village in Haute-Vienne was the victim of a Nazi massacre in June 1944.
“I would like to express on behalf of Germany my dismay and my affliction at these inconceivable crimes, so cruel and inhuman, perpetrated here by Germans (…),” declared Mr. Steinmeier, during a speech spoken on the scene, in French, during ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the massacre in this village.
“And I would like to share with you the feeling of shame that inhabits me regarding the fact that assassins subsequently remained unpunished, that they did not atone for the most serious crimes. My country surrendered in this very way guilty again,” he added.
Only six people escaped one of the worst massacres of civilians by the Nazis in Western Europe, which left 643 dead: men shot with machine guns by the Waffen SS, then some 450 women and children in the church, before the village is set on fire.
“Never forget”
The German president also mentioned Sunday’s European elections, marked by the progression of the far right, particularly in France and Germany.
“Let us never forget the damage caused in Europe by nationalism and hatred! Let us never forget what a miracle of reconciliation the European Union has worked! Let us protect our united Europe! And let us never forget how important freedom is,” said he declared.
The vote, against a backdrop of gloomy economic conditions and the war in Ukraine, confirmed a progression of the nationalist and radical rights, and a bitter setback for the leaders of the two main powers of the EU, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced on Sunday evening a dissolution of the National Assembly.
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp
