Section 3. And then comes Hitler

While the defeat and subsequent occupation of France by the Germans during the Second World War are a well documented set of events, it is noted here since it is an important part of the story of Flers.  After a month long blitzkrieg campaign ending in the defeat of France, Hitler made it his business to hold on to his new prize.

Hitler strolling through defeated Paris.
(Source:  Roger-Viollet / Rex Features)

The western coast of France became the Nazi's first line of defense against still undefeated Great Britain and its new ally the United States. With a series of interconnected heavy artillery batteries, machine gun nests, and bombproof observation stations Hitler's concrete emplacements became a formidable set of obstacles for the allies. With continued strengthening under the capable supervision of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel the west coast of France came to be known as "The Atlantic Wall".

Beaches of Normandy and The Atlantic Wall
 ( Source: Left http://www.bibliophilebooks.com/normandybreachingtheatlantic , Middle unknown)

For Normandy as a whole, the interior regions lying behind the beaches became strategic to the supply and command structure of this vital German defensive line. The rail centers, that had been for holiday goer's benefit before the war, became vitally important to the new German strategy. These railways made it possible to move men and materiel quickly and efficiently throughout the region.  Flers, a railroad hub, became central to Germany's hold over Normandy and by extension the rest of occupied Europe.

Flers as a rail center prior to the Second World War. (Source: Archives de Flers)

In the days and weeks leading up to the allied invasion of Europe, the Axis forces worked to secure their positions while the Allies did all they could to loosen the Nazi's grip.  Not wanting to telegraph the exact location of their intended landings, American and British bombing raids hit a wide range of targets with the intention of destroying their specific objectives but still keeping the Germans guessing where an amphibious assault might occur. Flers was right in the cross-hairs of the Allied bombing raids that came night after night. These "softening up" operations devastated the town. The bombs leveled 80% of Flers de L'Orne.

Just one of the many bombing missions for the town of Flers.  This one for June 6, 1944.

The following is a fairly accurate description of the bombing of Flers.

On the 5th of June the Mayor of Flers tried to keep some semblance of normality by distributing sewing patterns to the young people and the newspaper of Flers reported on the results of the judging of the agricultural show but everyone knew the invasion was eminent. 

"But on the next day, Flers wrote one of the most tragic pages in its history. On the night of 5 to 6, the Fouchard House on the street of the fountain was destroyed by an incendiary bomb. The men of the local civil defense, removed seven corpses. At the same time on the Normandy coast the aerial bombing took place as planned, and (many of) the Fleriens panicked and left the city for the neighboring hamlets. Others took refuge in the church of Saint-Germain. Between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. the windows trembled, while a rumble of bombs fell on the city. For more than an hour, twelve U.S. squadrons and their two hundred "flying fortresses" pounded the city. On Charretiers Street those who still can take flight. In the city Messel Street, Ball Street, and Donfront Street are a huge blaze. Men and women lie under the rubble.  Everything is in ruins. One hundred civilians perished under the bombs. The fighting continued throughout the summer until August 16, 1944 when the 11th British Armored division troops free the city.

(Source: http://charmanetoverlord.skyrock.com/2866634628-LA-LIBERATION-DE-L-ORNE.html, translation by the author)

The bombs hit the railroad yard as well as the town. This is an early bombing mission focusing on Flers. Here, much of the town remains in tact but this would change.