Citadel of Le Château-d'Oléron Bombing
Details:
On the grounds of the Château d'Oléron citadel, on the righthand side, at the end of the ramp leading to the citadel's square.
Two angled, rectangular, reddish-brown slabs that show information and photos of the bombing of the citadel on April 17, 1945. The first slab contains the information only while the other slab features the photos. The inscription on the information slab is written in French in engraved and white lettering.
Occupied by German troops during the Second World War, the citadel was liberated in 1945 but was badly damaged by Allied bombings. The aircraft of the 11th Allied Bomber Brigade, the 31st and 34th Squadrons equipped with B-26-G "Marauder", coming from Saint-Dizier, bombarded the citadel. The 1st wave composed of 25 aircraft of the 34th wing dropped 94 explosive bombs of 1000 pounds at 17h19, and the 2nd wave composed of 25 aircraft of the 31st wing dropped 99 explosive bombs of 1000 pounds at 17h44.
Source of information and photos: www.aerosteles.net
Monument Text:
LA SECONDE GUERRE
MONDIALE
A la veille de la libération d'Oléron,le général de Larminat décide le bombardement aérien de la Citadelle.Le témoignage d'un adolescent à cette époque nous permet de revivre ce qui s'est passé.
"Le mercredi 17 avril à 17h20,un grondement de moteurs d'avions va en s'amplifiant,il devient assourdissant...combien sont-ils?La terre tremble dans un bruit d'enfer,des bombes explosent sur la citadelle toutes les minutes,c'est terrifiant...A 18h00,tout est fini,silence de mort."
Le bombardement a détruit 95% des bâtiments.
Abandonnée pendant plusieurs décennies,la rénovation de la citadelle a commencé depuis 1985 pour ne plus s'interrompre.
English translation:
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
WORLD WAR II
On the eve of the liberation of Oleron, General de Larminat decided on the aerial bombardment of the Citadel. The testimony of a teenager at that time allows us to relive what happened.
"On Wednesday 17 April at 5.20 pm, a rumbling of aircraft engines became deafening... How many of them were there? The earth shook with a hellish noise, bombs exploded on the citadel every minute, it was terrifying... At 6 pm, it was all over, dead silence."
The bombing destroyed 95% of the buildings.
Abandoned for several decades, the renovation of the citadel began in 1985 and is ongoing.
