In the context of their civic commitment and duty of remembrance, students from the Defense classes of the Joinville College and High School conducted a particularly moving visit to the martyred village of Oradour-sur-Glane (Haute-Vienne) on Thursday, March 26 in the morning.
Honored to have Agathe Hébras as their guide (granddaughter of Robert Hébras, a survivor of the village tragedy, deceased in 2023) and accompanied by their teachers, the middle and high school students discovered this historically significant place, a witness to the massacre committed on June 10, 1944 during World War II. From the moment they arrived, the silence and solemnity of the preserved ruins left a deep impression on the students.
During the visit, the students were able to observe the remnants of the houses (including that of Mr. Hébras), the Laudy barn (a place of torment for the men), the former school, and the church where the women and children of the village lost their lives. Thanks to the explanations provided, they gained a better understanding of the precise sequence of events on that tragic day.
This educational outing fully aligns with the objectives of the Defense class: to transmit the values of the Republic, raise awareness of history, and encourage reflection on the concepts of peace, memory, and commitment. For many students, this experience will remain a highlight of their schooling.
Leaving Oradour-sur-Glane, everyone leaves with a strengthened awareness of the importance of the duty of remembrance, so that such events never happen again.
This visit was complemented in the afternoon by a visit to the Resistance Museum in Limoges, giving students a broader view of World War II and resistance activities in the Haute-Vienne department.
The teams from Cressot College and Philippe-Lebon High School warmly thank Agathe Hébras, Mr. Mattera, and the Anim’Jeunesse association without whom this memorial trip would not have been possible.
Fact Check: Oradour-sur-Glane was a village in France where a massacre took place on June 10, 1944, resulting in the deaths of 642 residents. The village remains preserved as a memorial to the atrocity.
