大象传媒

Introduction

One of the first key objectives for the Allied Forces after landing in Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944 was a place called Caen. The first bombardment of the city began at 13.30 on D-Day and it continued from one side or the other throughout the whole of June and July. Most of what was left of Caen, and its citizens, were liberated by 9 July 1944, but the Germans still occupied the southern suburbs until 18 / 19 July. During the Battle for Caen, more than three quarters of the buildings in Caen were destroyed. It was to become known as a 鈥楳artyr City鈥�, or in French: 鈥榲ille martyre鈥�.

With the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� coming to a close for new entries, I felt I should pay a small tribute to this place called Caen, where so many people gave their lives so that it may at last be free. It was in and around Caen that I learnt much about the Second World War. Rather more importantly, it was at Caen that I learnt more about how important it is to have peace. No other place should have to suffer as this place called Caen and its good citizens did in the summer of 1944.

I would therefore like to dedicate this article to the good citizens of Caen and their continuing work towards educating the world of the need for Peace rather than War. The article is based on the research notes and previous articles written in French by the author. These have been translated into English for this article by the author, who has read and understood the terms of the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� website.

A place for Peace

In 1988, the then French President, Fran莽ois Mitterand opened one of the most famous of the 鈥楪rands Projects鈥� (Major Projects) he commissioned during his term of office as Head of State. It was the appropriately named 鈥楳emorial Museum for Peace鈥� at Caen on the site of a former German defensive bunker. Having himself been a member of the French Underground in the Vichy area of France during the war, President Mitterand鈥檚 conception was that this Museum would have a threefold purpose:

1. A centre for the history of the Battle of Normandy
2. A centre for the fragility of Democracy
3. A centre about the precariousness of the Rights of Man.

The Caen Memorial Museum has since become the most visited site of the Battle of Normandy. As someone who has visited the Museum and its grounds many times, it is usually possible to meet visitors from most of the nations who were involved in the European War during World War Two, especially the French, British, Canadians, Americans, Poles and many Germans. Several 鈥楶eace Gardens鈥� are to be found around the main museum buildings.

One of the important spaces at the Memorial Museum is the Nobel Peace Prize Gallery. This emphasizes the Museum鈥檚 commitment to work for Peace. While it is important to see what happened in World War Two and understand why it happened, the existence of the Nobel Peace Prize Gallery demonstrates the importance of Peace. Written in stone in large lettering on the front fa莽ade of the Memorial Museum are words by the French poet Paul Dorey:

鈥淕rief has brought me down,
Brotherhood has raised me up again,
From my wounds have sprung forth a river of Liberty鈥�.

In 1944, a young 16 year old Caennais called Jean-Marie Girault was a Red Cross volunteer who helped treat many of his fellow townsfolk during the Battle for Caen. Many of the citizens of Caen managed to find shelter in the 鈥楢bbaye aux Hommes鈥�, (Men鈥檚 Abbey) originally built under the patronage of William the Conqueror.

The 鈥楢bbaye鈥� is now the place where the Town Hall of Caen can be found. Monsieur Girault, who has written several books and spoken about his experiences, went on to become Mayor of Caen and a member of the French Senate. In November 1996, Jean-Marie Girault, as Mayor of Caen, aptly summed up how important the Memorial Museum for Peace is to the townsfolk of Caen:

鈥淚f I had wished for such a place it is so that I know why I am a free man鈥�.

Remembrance

On 11 November 1999, the Anniversary of Armistice Day of the Great War, after attending a Remembrance Service and thinking about what had happened at Caen in 1944, I wrote down some words in French. This is a translation of what I wrote:

REMEMBRANCE

Remember those who left their land,
Remember the civilians martyred for Peace,
Remember those boys who lost their lives,
Remember the Resistance facing the enemy.
Remember the acts, courageous and hidden,
Remember all those who were imprisoned,
Remember the war, those wounded and surviving,
Remember the Peace we are now living.

J. Ritson, 11 November 1999

Conclusion

Years after World War Two people still remember friends and family who suffered, and in some cases, died in the cause of Liberty, in Europe and in many other parts of the world. A place called Caen was just one among many whose citizens endured the destruction of their homes and lives because of war.

Yet, since the war, the city and townsfolk of Caen have worked long and hard in the cause of Peace. This will be my is my last submission to the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� website. It is fitting that it should end with an article about Caen, where I first learnt about how horrendous it was for so many during the Second World War. Hopefully, there will never be another World War.

In Memory of those who fought for freedom in the Battle of Normandy, 6 June - 22 August 1944:

鈥淟et us never forget War, but let us work for Peace鈥�.

J. Ritson
30 January 2006

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