T U L L E
9th J U N E 1944
In June 1944, the infamous and brutal 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich was ordered by Hitler to relocate to Montauban away from the Russian front to re-arm in readiness for the impending Allied invasion. Orders were received to brutally suppress increased resistance activity and sabotage operations. The actions were designed to terrorise local populations, while deterring popular support for Marquis activity.
On June 7th the Correze Marquis carried out a
co-ordinated attack on Tulle, designed to overwhelm the modest German defences, provide a cache of additional weapons and prevent further German attacks on Marquis’ strongholds in the surrounding hills.
The offensive lasted two days, effectively liberating Tulle with the German troops and Malice surrendering with a loss of around 50 men and a similar number injured or missing.
The joy of liberation was short-lived. On June 8th at 9.00pm, tanks from Das Reich surprised the Marquis who were quickly outmanoeuvred and fled to the surrounding hills.
On the morning of the 9th June, all men between the ages of 16-60 were rounded up by the SS and marched to Souilhac Square. Here, some 5000 men were forced to line up outside the munitions factory while a series of identity checks, selections and deselections took place.
After hours of negotiation and pleas for individuals proven to be unconnected with the resistance, 120 men were chosen for the planned reprisal. At 4pm, posters were put up around the city announcing the details of the intended hangings.
Within the hour, in groups of ten, the chosen victims were marched to their place of execution and were forced to climb small ladders from which they were hanged by gallows attached to lampposts and balconies, with the remaining horrified hostages forced to watch.
During this time, SS soldiers looked on oblivious to the sheer terror and barbarity, with many enjoying drinks and music in the local Café Tivoli. In total 99 men were hung that day, with their bodies dumped without any form of dignified burial or identification at a local waste dump.
The following day, another gruesome selection process took place. Of the 500 men rounded up but spared execution, 311 were taken to Limoges where 149 were selected for the Dachau death camp of which 101 never returned.
In 1953, Heinz Lammerding, commander of the SS 2nd Panzer Division, was tried in France in absentia for several war crimes, including the massacre at Tulle. He was sentenced to death, but never extradited from West Germany. He died a free man, escaping justice by denying direct involvement in either the Tulle or Oradour-sur-Glane massacres.