The SS Panzer Division Das Reich, destroyed the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane on 10th June 1944 during WWII and today it is preserved, In a Ruined State. This website describes the history, background and events leading up to the Nazi war-crime of the massacre of the inhabitants of what is today called the Martyr village of Oradour-sur-Glane. This atrocity was carried out in the afternoon of Saturday 10th June 1944 by soldiers of the Der Führer Regiment of the 2nd Waffen-SS Panzer Division, Das Reich. On that day, without giving any explanation for their actions, they killed a total of 642 men, women and children, leaving only a few unintended survivors. They then destroyed the entire village of Oradour and to this day there is no universally accepted explanation for the massacre. In order to gain some lasting impressions from the tragedy, visitors to the ruins today are exhorted in both French and English to: Remember! The narrative, In a Ruined State, gives a full description of what happened on the 10th June 1944 at Oradour and reviews all the current explanations offered by different authors for the attack on the village. In addition there are over 200 photographs in the Picture Gallery and much supporting information in the Appendices, including advice on how to get there and places to stay during a visit. If short of time, read the Summary and look at the Recommended viewing list, but for a fuller understanding, it is recommended to read all of, In a Ruined State. Additionally, the Appendices themselves are worth reading, as they contain much relevant detail about the background to the affair, biographical notes and what happened afterwards to those involved.

