French historian honoured by Germany for Nazi bunker work

The 84-year-old spent over 20 years clearing out and commemorating the World War Two bunkers, a key defence position for the Nazis

Medoc Atlantique

Ben Smith

Published Friday 18 June 2021 - 14:59 Modified Friday 18 June 2021 - 14:59

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AN 84-year-old French man has been awarded the Order of Merit by Germany for 23 years’ of work clearing out sand from World War Two bunkers at Soulac-sur-Mer, at the mouth of the Gironde a key defence position for the Nazis, preventing the allies sailing into Bordeaux.

Jean-Paul Lescorce began the work at the age of 61 when he undertook his monumental task on the 26 bunkers, armed with a shovel and rubbish bags.

"Locals thought I was crazy," he recalls, "they didn't understand why I was clearing these 'blockhouses', as they call them - when the real term is bunker [reinforced iron concrete].”

The Connexion interviewed Mr Lescorce at the start of this year.

Read our article with him here

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