The old rifle: what tragic historical fact is this film inspired by?

Released in cinemas in 1975, the movie called The old gunworn by Philippe Noiret and Romy Schneider, will be broadcast on C8 Sunday, September 18, 2022, from 9:05 p.m. Realized by Robert Enricothis feature film tells the story of a doctor, portrayed on screen by Philippe Noiretwho avenges the violent deaths of his wife, interpreted by Romy Schneider, and his daughter. The latter were brutally murdered by SS soldiers, who settled in the castle of a small hamlet where they had taken refuge. A convinced pacifist and humanist surgeon, the doctor will however methodically eliminate one by one the SS responsible for the death of his wife and daughter.

Marked by scenes of relentless violence, The old gun is inspired by a dramatic historical event that occurred during the Second World Warbaptized The massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane. The latter took place on June 10, 1944, barely a few days after the landing of the Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy. In fact, The massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane relate the destruction by the Germans of the eponymous French village of Haute-Vienne, located about 20 kilometers northwest of Limoges. That day, a detachment of the first battalion of the 4th Panzergrenadier Regiment “Der Führer”, belonging to the SS Armored Division “Das Reich”has murdered the inhabitants of Oradour-sur-Glane, claiming no less than 643 victims in total.

The Old Rifle Recounts One of History’s Worst Massacres

At the time, this tragic event had a profound impact on people’s consciences, given that it was the largest massacre of civilians committed in France by the German armies. A killing similar to that of Marzabotto in Italy, or Distomo in Greece, which also took place for the anecdote on June 10, 1944. Subsequently, the legal consequences of Massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane aroused a lively controversyin particular because of the amnesty granted to Alsatians “Despite U.S”, who participated in this crime.

As a reminder, the expression “Despite U.S” means Alsatians and Mosellens who were forcibly incorporated into the Wehrmacht (the German regular army) during the Second World War. Today, the memory of the victims of this massacre has been commemorated since 1999 by the Memory Center of Oradour-sur-Glane, located not far from the ruins of the village of the time. These last ones were almost preserved in the state.

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