Memorial French Resistance Hill 60

During the Second World War on the railroad Ypres - Kortrijk something horrific occurred on Hill 60. The German troops were in Ypres and Poperinge. By train from Kortrijk direction Poperinge prisoners and materials were transported. The train was at Hill 60, on the border Zillebeke-Hollebeke and stood still as usual waiting for an extra locomotive that could provide additional traction.

Two French soldiers who were captured in one of the wagons, were shot dead by the Germans. People heard a few shots and 200 meters away were two lifeless bodies. They were Pierre Marchant and Lucien Olivier, who later turned out to be French members of the resistance. The two Frenchmen were arrested in their residence La Madeleine at the station when a train carrying SS'ers entered the station. Presumably suspected of an attack, they were surrounded and captured and taken by train to Belgium and moved to Ypres.

Were they beaten on the run when the train was waiting and shot or were they executed? What happened that day will probably always remain a mystery. The two Frenchmen were provisionally buried in the village Zillebeke. Later they were reburied in their residence. In 1969 Belgium Imosphinx Academy unveiled a memorial to commemorate the two men.

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Source

• Text: Rino Deltombe
• Photos: Luc van Waeyenberge