Le Paradis (France) British POW shot.

Hello,

In May 1940 British soldiers taken POW were executed by German SS Totenkopf troops at 'Le Paradis'.
What was the site of the execution?, (there exist several places called 'Le Paradis' in Northern France).
Which British unit was involved, where are the victims buried.?

Thanks,

regards,

Cnock

 

It was HQ Company of the 2nd Battalion The Norfolk Regiment, Commanded by Major Ryder. There was also some men from the Royal Scots that were murdered as they were on the boundary with the Norfolks. You can see the casualties in the local CWGC cemetery and there is a memorial near the entrance.

The actual massacre was a few Km's away by the side of a farm which is still there today alone with a plaque, memorial and the bullet holes.

Here's the cemetery details:
http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2027400/LE%20PARADIS%20WAR%20CEMETERY,%20LESTREM

As a quick fix I would recommend Last Stand at Le Paradis - alternatively come back in around five years and you can by my book :lol:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Stand-Paradis-Massacre-Norfolks-ebook/dp/B008KMO9NY/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430857110&sr=1-4&keywords=paradis+norfolk+regiment

 

Hello Drew5233,

Many Thanks for the info!
Hope to be able to visit the cemetery soon.

Lest we forget

regards,

Cnock

 

I'll be in France and Belgium for the last two weeks of May

 

Hi,

sorry, but I won't be abl to make it for France

regards,

Cnock

 

Hello Drews,

do ou know the exact location of the farm where the massacre took place?

thanks,

Cnock

 

Yep

The graves are at the back of the church on Rue Delflie and you need to know they lay out of the farms/houses as there are three almost next to each other on opposite sides of the road. One was where HQ Company were fighting, one was the massacre site and the other is where the two survivors hid. If you head for the Chemin du Paradis that should get you in the area. Be warned though it may be tricky to find. I've been there several times and I always find it hard to find for some reason - even with a map and satnav!

 

Anniversary of this today.
81 years. 27/05/40.
97 murdered after surrendering.

Mr Ball provides an excellent concise summary on Twatter:
https://twitter.com/3468marsh/status/1397801541260689408?s=20

 

SS prisoners of the Russian got special treatment. I doubt if many came home.

 

Sorrry but should that be May not March. The western offensive started early May? If I got it worng do correct me. Cheers.KPH

 

Apologies. fat finger/phone interaction.
Edited.

 

No problem. Cheers von Poop!

 

I visited the massacre site and cemetery with a party from Army HQ in 2017. The senior officer a brigadier ex Royal Anglian Regiment told a stlory about a manwhon had evaded capture and ended up in Burma.

There were at least three survivors
British survivor of Nazi massacre which killed 97 soldiers in 1940 dies aged 100
Massacre Overview