The north of France is lovely, very different from the chaotic Paris I`ve visited. The capital of France is no longer a romantic or modernist city. However, the countryside still preserves picturesque landscapes, cities full of colourful flowers and cafés everywhere, which will make you feel like you were in a French film, like the classic "Amélie".
The towns of Deuville, Caen and Bayoux are the postcard of this France I`ve just described. They are located in the north, in Normandy. Beautiful region, full of castles, rivers and colourful houses.
But don`t let this trick you, behind all this beauty lies a tragic history written in blood. A memory that today only exists in the minds of the few octogenarian men who fought in World War II.
During the war, much of the French territory was occupied by Germany and Normandy wasn`t different: The French population was under Nazi rule for a long time.
Believe me, Hitler was not sightseeing- 1940
However, in June 1944, American, British and Canadian troops, guided by the information provided by the "French Resistance", finally turned the situation around. For those who do not remember, this historical event was re-enacted in the film "Saving Private Ryan", and it was more important than we imagine.
City of Caen at the end of the war
The D-Day or Operation Overlock was a key point for the war. It was the moment when the Allies united and began to gain territory in Europe and to diminish the German influence. The soldiers left from England at night to reach France in the morning and catch the German forces by surprise. Their landing took place on different parts of the coast, initially at Point Du Hoc, and then on the beaches now commonly known as: Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold and Sword.
I had the privilege of taking a trip to this region and getting to know the local history. I was very pleased to arrive the week they were celebrating the 70th year anniversary of the disembark. It was also wonderful to learn that everyone seeks to keep this memory alive, there are plenty of museums, memorials of the battles and tours to the beaches where the landing took place. Not only tourists, but students from the surrounding towns learn a part of World War II history right here. In the midst of weapons, tanks and original personal objects.
D-Day Memorial, Caen
But I believe that the most awe-inspiring part of the trip were the cemeteries where many of those 17-18 years old boys died and were buried. Yes, it might not be common knowledge, but many boys falsified their documents just to defend their countries or simply to venture into foreign lands.
I visited two cemeteries in Caen:
The American one with crosses and Stars of David, which was not only enormous, but very busy with veterans and their relatives.
The English one, simpler but more emblematic in my opinion. Unlike the American tombstones, the English ones had messages left by the parents of the boys. Sad messages such as "Rest in peace until we meet again", messages to those who remain unknown, but "God will know" and love messages from wives, parents and siblings.
American Cemetery
But what struck me the most was a specific headstone, which said, "Someday we will understand", it came like an arrow in my chest, because it was the first moment I put myself in the shoes of those who wrote it. I just hope the family came to peace.
English Cemetery
I`d like to finish my text like that. Because this is life. Those boys were victims of the greedy decisions of their own rulers, all of them: Englishmen, Americans, Germans, Russians, and Brazilians. I just hope we learn through these stories that war leads us nowhere. I do not want to discuss national security, bargaining power, or deterrence here, just want to reflect that in times when two fools exchange offenses that threaten international security, Trump and Kim Jong-un, there must be people looking for discernment and to discuss with young people such questions, because little by little, they are being forgotten. It is necessary to remind them of the barbarities of the past, so that they will not accept to enter a war like little sheep, where the only ones that gain are those that commercialize arms: the war industry.
