On an ordinary country road you come to imposing iron gates blocking the road. You walk through the gate and find yourself in 1944. Tram lines with the overhead power lines still in place, a complete village but no people. Then you notice that all the roofs have gone. A rusting 1940s Peugeot parked in the town square. Emotion, disbelief, a holocaust in the true sense of the word, how could it have happened here? This is Oradour-sur-Glane in western France. Altogether a remarkable experience. General de Gaulle decreed that the village should be left exactly as it was found after a visit by a German Panzer Division on the 10th of June 1944.

Oradour-sur-Glane The Last Day, is my professional standard produced, but not-for-profit, English language film about the massacre at the now preserved French village, and my research into the question asked since 1944, WHY ?

I look at how the “last day” of Oradour-sur-Glane was inflicted by the Der Fuhrer Regiment of the second Waffen SS Panzer Division Das Reich and the events leading up to the massacre of the 642 innocent men, women and children on the 10th of June 1944.

I give my talk on film as we move around the village unfolding the events of that awful day. We visit other connected events and towns in our quest to answer the main question. Reasons for the massacre become apparent. My research uncovered the main catalyst and answers the big question WHY ? This is revealed in the film.

The Oradour film is followed by The Maille Massacre, a six minute film about the similar attack on the now rebuilt town of Maille in August 1944.

Both films are in Colour, High Definition and with sub-titles if required. Programme running time 45 minutes. Subject to parental judgement suitable for age 12 +. I do not wish profit to be made from this special programme. The cost of venue and expenses are of course necessary. I provide the projector and screen. I am happy to discuss the subject after I have packed away and loaded up the equipment.