Now and Then: World War II – Pont l’Abbe, France.

Last Thursday, we ran a post regarding a most interesting wayside cross.  If you remember the site lies at the intersection of roads D-15 and D-24, just west of Pont l’Abbe in the Normandy region of France.

Hobert Winebrenner, author of BOOTPRINTS,  and his unit, the 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, helped liberate the area.  Winebrenner actually lost a friend to a German sniper at that very same cross.

Oops!  In last Thursday’s post, we included a picture of a postcard capturing the original erection of the crucifix from 1910.  Only problem, it was the wrong wayside cross.  Our dear friend and dedicated follower of the site, Tristan, brought this to our attention.

Let’s give this another try!

"Military Necessity," a wartime painting by artist, Aaron Bohrod, depicts the Pont l'Abbe cross adorned with telephone lines.

Hobert Winebrenner, along with his wife, Marian, revisits the Pont l'Abbe cross on a return trip to Normandy, France in 1970.

Pont l'Abbe wayside cross as it looks today, courtesy Tristan.

Historical photo of Pont l'Abbe wayside cross.

Historical photo of Pont l'Abbe wayside cross.

Historical photo of Pont l'Abbe wayside cross.

Historical photo of Pont l'Abbe wayside cross.

Again, many thanks to Tristan for not only setting us straight, but for also providing the wonderful historical photos of the proper wayside cross.

After scouring through the different views over time, I have no doubt that the photos are of the same site.  But the question now becomes, when was the cross shortened?  We can see from the older photos, that the crucifix once stood much taller.  But by World War II, it was nice and stout.  Any ideas?  Maybe a storm knocked it down?

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