Panzer Lehr Grave in Normandy.
The location is the tiny hamlet of Parfouru-sur-Odon which, from 9-20 June 1944, was the CP and workshops of Pz Regt 130 of the Panzer Lehr Division. This unit operated Panzer IVs and was commanded by Major ( promoted posthumously to Oberstleutnant ) Prinz Wilhelm von Schoenburg-Waldenburg. He and two of his crew were killed by a British a/t shell during a counterattack on 11th June, near Tilly-sur-Seulles ( about 10 miles North of here ). They were buried in the local churchyard the next day with full military honours.
And the graves - very well-tended - remain there today, now part of a ‘garden of peace’.
I was pleased to find this spot - it is very quiet and remote ( apologies for the ‘glare’ of the photos - it was a very hot day).
Credit where it’s due here : I wouldn’t have found any of these locations without the invaluable help of Heimdal’s ‘Villers-Bocage : Autopsie D’Une Bataille’ by Frederic Deprun/Yann Jouault. This covers the area in incredible detail and is highly recommended…….
