I now come to the Vercors. This region was undeniably an important assembly center for French Forces of the Interior. Document F-611, which we submit as Exhibit Number RF-419, describes the atrocities committed against the innocent population of this region in reprisal for the presence of men of the Maquis. This document appears in your book on Page 69 and following. In Paragraph 3 is an enumeration of police operations in the Vercors area.
On 15 June, in the region of St. Donat: rape and looting. Execution at Portes-les-Valence on 8 July 1944 of 30 hostages taken from among the political prisoners interned at Fort Montluc at Lyons. Police raids carried out against the Maquis of the Vercors region from 21 July to 5 August 1944. Rape and looting in the region of Crest, Saillans, and Die. Bombing by aircraft of numerous villages in the Vercors area and in particular at La Chapelle and Vassieux-en-Vercors; summary execution of inhabitants of these places; looting. Execution, after summary judgment, of about a hundred young men at St. Nazaire-en-Royans; deportation to Germany of 300 others from this region. Murder of 50 gravely wounded persons in the Grotto of La Luire. On 15 June 1944, attack by German troops at St. Donat. I quote, “The Maquis had evacuated the town several days earlier . . . 54 women or young girls from 13 to 50 years of age were raped by the maddened soldiers.”
The Tribunal will forgive me if I avoid citing the atrocious details which follow. Bombing of the villages of Combovin, La Baume-Cornillanne, Ourches, et cetera:
“The losses caused by these bombings among the civilian population are rather high, for in most cases the inhabitants, caught by surprise, had no time to seek shelter . . . 2 women were raped at Crest . . . 3 women were raped at Saillans . . . .
“A young girl of twelve, who was wounded and pinned down between beams, awaited death for 6 long days unable either to sit down or sleep, and without receiving any food, and that under the eyes of the Germans who were occupying the village.”—A medical certificate from Doctor Nicolaides, who examined the women who were raped in this region.
I will pass on.
I submit Document F-612 under Exhibit Number RF-420. To terrorize the inhabitants at Trebeurden in Brittany they hanged innocent people, and slashed the corpses to make the blood flow.
I proceed. Document F-912 is submitted as Exhibit Number RF-421, Page 82 of your book. It is the report of the massacre of 35 Jews at St. Amand-Montrond. These men were arrested and killed with pistol shots in the back by members of the Gestapo and of the German Army. They were innocent of any crime.
I submit Document F-913 as Exhibit Number RF-422—Page 96, I am quoting: