Dachau – The last survivor of the SS massacre in the French town of Oradour-sur-Glane is dead. Robert Hébras died on Saturday at the age of 97.
"I don't want to die without being sure that there is a Franco-German friendship." That's what Robert Hébras said in 2014, when a group of cyclists completed a "Tour of Reconciliation" from Dachau to Oradour.
Since the end of the Second World War, Hébras has been committed to reconciliation, committed to the Franco-German youth encounter, and made friends with people in Dachau.
Again and again he led visitors through the ruins of Oradour, which to this day remain silent witnesses to the SS massacre of June 10, 1944.
Robert Hébras survived among the corpses of his friends
SS soldiers had wiped out the village within hours.
They locked women and children in a church and set it on fire.
The men were shot.
A total of 642 innocent people were murdered.
Hébras was one of six people who survived: he remained lying under the bodies of his friends who had been shot.
He was an Order of Merit of the Nation of France
The city of Dachau and Oradour-sur-Glane have maintained friendly contacts since 2011.
Robert Hébras, who was awarded the National Order of Merit by French President Emmanuel Macron a year ago, had campaigned for the friendship between the two cities from the start.
He visited Dachau several times or guided guests from Dachau through the ruins of Oradour-sur-Glane.
"With Robert Hébras, the city of Dachau has lost a great friend and invaluable contemporary witness."
Florian Hartmann, Mayor of Dachau
Mayor Florian Hartmann walked through the ruins with Robert Hébras for the first time in 2014.
Afterwards, Robert Hébras said to Hartmann: "Make sure that this is not forgotten." Hartmann will of course continue to commemorate, travel to commemorations, welcome representatives of the city of Oradour to Dachau.
"I'm grateful that I was able to meet him," says Hartmann.
Hébras, who was distinguished by "goodness, kindness and wisdom", was a role model for him.
"With Robert Hébras, the city of Dachau has lost a great friend and invaluable contemporary witness."
Robert Hébras' commitment to Franco-German friendship paid off: He could be sure that his wish would come true.
