The passing of a French Resistance hero
André Heintz (1920 - 2017)
On 31 October 2017 the Memorial Museum at Caen, Normandy has reported the passing of Monsieur André Heintz at the age of 97. In the period before D-Day, 6 June 1944, André Heintz was a member of the French Resistance in the Caen area who was able to provide London with valuable information about the German forces in Normandy. He was also able to alert the Allies not to bomb the Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey) at Caen in the immediate aftermath of D-Day as this was where thousands of civilians had taken refuge.
According to André Heintz, the greatest day of his life was 9 July 1944, the day the Allied soldiers were finally able to liberate his beloved, if battered, home city of Caen:
"That day was the most beautiful of my entire life. I could hardly believe that I survived the German occupation and the battle, and I rushed to church as soon as I could to thank God for the privilege of being alive and being free again."
(BBC "People's War", Article ID 2524385)
Click on the following link to read André Heintz's personal account of his wartime experiences, as told to the BBC "People's War" website:
André Heintz's D-Day: The Resistance in Caen
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We salute the passing of this fine hero of the French Resistance of WW2.
May he rest in peace.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On 31 October 2017 the Memorial Museum at Caen, Normandy has reported the passing of Monsieur André Heintz at the age of 97. In the period before D-Day, 6 June 1944, André Heintz was a member of the French Resistance in the Caen area who was able to provide London with valuable information about the German forces in Normandy. He was also able to alert the Allies not to bomb the Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey) at Caen in the immediate aftermath of D-Day as this was where thousands of civilians had taken refuge.
According to André Heintz, the greatest day of his life was 9 July 1944, the day the Allied soldiers were finally able to liberate his beloved, if battered, home city of Caen:
"That day was the most beautiful of my entire life. I could hardly believe that I survived the German occupation and the battle, and I rushed to church as soon as I could to thank God for the privilege of being alive and being free again."
(BBC "People's War", Article ID 2524385)
Click on the following link to read André Heintz's personal account of his wartime experiences, as told to the BBC "People's War" website:
André Heintz's D-Day: The Resistance in Caen
-------------------
We salute the passing of this fine hero of the French Resistance of WW2.
May he rest in peace.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
posted by ritsonvaljos at 9:42 pm
2 Comments:
I met Andre on two separate trips to Normandy in 07 and 09 when he was our tour guide for two men’s’ trips of10 men each. I loved his kind, gentle way, his love of country and his devotion to the memory and honor of the resistance fighters who lost their lives in WW II. May he know first hand the presence of Jesus Christ his Savior. I will see him again!
Tom Grady
Alpharetta, GA
USA
trgrady@aol.com
Great tribute to André Heintz. I wish it included a few photos of his taken before and during WWII.
I'm not making a comment but submitting a (typo) correction: in your home page roster of "previous posts" is one described as "Gérard Ménatory, and a life after Mauthuasen." Trust me, "Mauthausen" is clearly misspelled, no doubt a typo. Needs to be corrected.
Thank you for your tribute to Monsieur Heintz.
Curt Scott
Santa Clarita, California
Curt@CobraCountry.com
661-251-2223 Pacific Time
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