Les Ormes, Yonne Explained

Les Ormes
Commune Status:Commune
Image Coat Of Arms:Blason ville fr Les Ormes 89.svg
Coordinates:47.85°N 3.2672°W
Insee:89281
Postal Code:89110
Arrondissement:Auxerre
Canton:Charny Orée de Puisaye
Mayor:Danielle Maillard[1]
Term:2020 - 2026
Elevation Min M:165
Elevation Max M:238
Area Km2:8.55

Les Ormes (in French pronounced as /le.z‿ɔʁm/) is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France.

History

During World War II, the Yonne region fell under German occupation after the Battle of France in 1940. The area would again see fighting in August 1944 during Operation Houndsworth, in which local Maquis resistance fighters and British commandos from the Special Air Service were tasked with harassing German troops behind the frontlines.

On August 23, 1944, a detachment of commandos from C Squadron, 1st Special Air Service (led by Captain Derrick Harrison) stumbled upon a Waffen-SS unit preparing to execute local civilians in Les Ormes' town square. The two SAS jeeps opened fire on the Germans, and a brief firefight ensued before the commandos made their escape. Harrison estimated at least 60 German soldiers wounded or killed in action. One commando, Lance Corporal James 'Curly' Hall, was killed.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022. fr.