THE OLD FRENCH TOWN, FRENCH LIQUEUR AND THE DAMAGE OF HISTORICAL SITES

During the battle of France in 1940 the young  German officer, Hans von Luck, was ordered to attack the old French town, Fecamp. The old town is situated within Upper Normandy region. Fecamp is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department  in the Haute-Normandie region in the northern France.

Hans von Luck had to make a decision about the future of the old town which is famous for historical buildings: The Casino, Town Hall and the Benedikter Monastry. If he attacked the town, he had to destroy the historical sites. He decided not to attack the town due to his personal interest in old historical buildings and above all: French liqueur!

When he was told that ” Liqueur DOM Benedictine ” was produced in Palais Benedictive in Fecamp, he made this statement: ” … Monsieur  le Maire, I gave an order to save the Town Hall, the Monastery and the Casino because I have a great respect for the historical buildings. Pour vous, la guerre est finie …”. His love for the French liqueur was not mentioned in his public statement about the future of the town. The winner of the battle was the liqueur! He drank the French liqueur with great pleasure, bought some bottles for his private collections, and he gave a party for the inhabitants of the town paid by himself.

D.O.M means: DEO-OPTIMO- MAXIMO or  ” To God, the Greatest and the Best ”

SOURCE: Hans von Luck: Panzer Commander. The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck. Vega Forlag AS. 2007. Page 53- 57.

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