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^[[circled]] 12 [[/circled]] The Germans had disregarded the rules of land warfare as they had in the first World War. Before and during battle a historic monument was no more sacred than any military installation. Again and again the church towers were used as observation posts and snipers fired from them as our troops advanced. All the proclamations and paper notices in the world would not have saved such buildings for their civilian [[strikethrough]] purpose [[/strikethrough]] use and for the art lovers of the future. [[strikethrough]] A few isolated examples chosen at random from my reports will exemplify what could be written ad nauseum about places dotted all over Northern France. [[/strikethrough]] ^[[circled]] 13 [[/circled]] [[strikethrough underlined]] NORMANDY [[/strikethrough underlined]] There was havoc and destruction everywhere. France had this time been made a battle ground for the enemies of ^[[?]] Fascism, and her beloved Normandy, so often before in the pathway of invading armies, had been chosen as the only possible place for a toe-hold for the first troops and equipment which were to drive the ^[[?]] Nazi conqueror from the French soil (they had) ^[[so]] ignominously invaded. The toll of human lives and the sacrifice of (their) homes and fields [[strikethrough]] are [[/strikethrough]] were incalculable. This gateway to Paris and the industrial centers was rich in historical monuments of every kind. Almost every town had its ancient church spire or tower and had shared in the artistic pride of France's culture. Monasteries and private [[strikethrough]] castles [[/strikethrough]] chateaux attested the wealth of past generations which had lived in tranquil solitude far from the [[strikethrough]] existance [[/strikethrough]] excitement of the modern metropolis. For generations their [[strikethrough]] ? had saved them [[/strikethrough]] way of life had (not been attuned to) ^[[been safe from]] the devestation of war. To these [[strikethrough]] ulterior [[/strikethrough]] remote parts of the provinces the Nazis had brought hordes of forced laborers from the East and in their brutal manner had all but enslaved the frightened citizens of France. Most of them, terrorized in their daily life, lived only in the hope of eventual liberation. Many were the people who had lost their families and every material possession. [[circled]] 14 [[/circled]][[strikethrough]] A handful of monuments officers landed on the beaches during June and July and set out to preserve what they could from this wreckage. At times it was [[/strikethrough]] ^[[What a challenge all this destruction was to a Monuments officer. It would be]] like scooping up wine from the streets after [[strikethrough]] the staves of [[/strikethrough]] the keg had [[strikethrough]] broken [[/strikethough]] burst, or like attempting to rescue a few eggs from an overturned crate. [[strikethrough]] before those intact were lost with the ones which had been broken smashed broken [[/stikethrough]]. The recording of damage amid the many gaping craters and fire-swept buildings [[strikethrough]] was a[[strikethrough]][[would be]] a thankless task, trying in the extreme even to the hardened archaeologist whos life is devoted to [[strikethrough]]picking up fragments with the hope of piecing together some [[/strikethrough]]^gathering fragments and attempting to piece them together in an effort to restore a semblance of [[strikethrough]] what is forever gone. [[/strikethrough]] ^the past. The hardy Normans [[would]] need encouragement and direction almost as much as [[strikethrough]]the[[/strikethrough]] [[they needed]] building supplies and transportation which [[strikethrough]] were rarely [[/strikethrough]] [[would not be]] available. An architect or inspector of historic monuments who