14.12.2011 29

Provence & Côte d’Azur: Safety measures are in place for residents of Six-Fours

Bomb relic neutralised disposal

Bomb disposal experts have neutralised a 250-kilogramme bomb today in Brusc. The World War II relic was discovered by builders at a retirement home construction site on 5th December.

The operation took only 40 minutes, while around 500 people within a 200 metre radius of the site were evacuated. Residents were allowed to return to their homes this afternoon. 

The local gas and electricity supply was been temporarily cut off from 7.30am this morning. Connections have returned to normal. 

The American Word War II explosive will be transported to the Canjuers military camp, where it will be destroyed.

Louise Kirby

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Comment by paper money | 19.03.2012

Lots of WWII bombs still in the ground and under water. Many were dumped without the wire being pulled.

Comment by J. Leung | 19.03.2012

The Laprovence.com article describes the bomb as German (Allemand), not American.

Comment by waupinya | 19.03.2012

jeeze, lucky it ever got defused, all the french were busy running.

Comment by Henry II | 19.03.2012

Not sure how the french disarmed the bomb what with 0 military training or experience. Still waiting for a thank you for the 2 world wars us americans fought for them while they were busy executing jews...see the french movie Sarahs Key..

Comment by duh | 19.03.2012

Henry II get real you retard. If it weren't for France, the US would not exist. Who do you think provided the most significant military aide to the fledgling Continental army?

Comment by free | 19.03.2012

How long do we have to thank the thankless?

Comment by bob | 19.03.2012

Found on Ebay: French WWII infantry rifle. Excellent condition. Never fired. Dropped once.

Comment by Kenbo-Sahn | 19.03.2012

The greatest thing about America is the freedom to speak your mind. The worst thing about America is that people who have no mind are allowed to speak.

Comment by Maria Diggi | 19.03.2012

Louise, you should learn French before quoting French news, please. The French news piece say the bomb was German. How did you read "American Bomb"?

Comment by Adam74 | 19.03.2012

"The greatest thing about America is the freedom to speak your mind. The worst thing about America is that people who have no mind are allowed to speak."

-lol, As if there were no other countries anywhere in the world with stupid people. Besides, love or hate the U.S., you can't deny that we are still the most culturally, financially and militarily influential country in the world. So we must be doing something right...

Comment by KatNZ | 19.03.2012

So basically what Henry II is saying is that the only ones involved in WW1 and 2 were the Americans. If I remember correctly, the Americans didn't enter WW2 until around 1942 (or whenever Pearl Harbour was bombed). There were many more countries involved in the Wars than just America.
I agree with 'duh'.
Nah, I don't really agree with the most culturally influential country in the world. Perhaps maybe financially and militarily, but not culturally.

Comment by Mark Ferguson | 19.03.2012

1941 was the year the United States entered WW2

Comment by Anonymoues | 19.03.2012

I have to say as an American I am ashamed when Americans speak out of ignorance. In WW1 there were many countries fighting especially the British and French not just Americans whom we were the ones who came into the war after the fact. WW2 was the same as someone noted after Pearl Harbor was attacked and just think how did Japanese planes get in to a U.S. military so easily without being detected so clever us Americans!
There is nothing to thank about war or any war just thank that it is over with for now!

Comment by Anonymous2 | 19.03.2012

World War One Timeline
Detailed Information
28 June 1914 Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
The Balkan states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been annexed from Turkey and taken into the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was strongly resented by many Serbs and Croats and a nationalist group, The Black Hand, was formed.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and his wife, had decided to inspect Austro-Hungarian troops in Bosnia. The date chosen for the inspection was a national day in Bosnia. The Black Hand supplied a group of students with weapons for an assassination attempt to mark the occasion.
A Serbian nationalist student, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, when their open car stopped at a corner on its way out of the town.
28 July 1914 Austria declared war on Serbia
The Austrian government blamed the Serbian government for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife and declared war on Serbia.
Although Russia was allied with Serbia, Germany did not believe that she would mobilise and offered to support Austria if necessary.
However, Russia did mobilise and, through their alliance with France, called on the French to mobilise.
1 Aug 1914 Germany declared war on Russia
Germany declared war on Russia.
3 Aug 1914 Germany declared war on France
Germany declared war on France. German troops poured into Belgium as directed under the Schleiffen Plan, drawn up in 1905. The British foreign secretary, Sir Edward Grey, sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding their withdrawal from the neutral Belgium.
4 Aug 1914 British declaration of war
Germany did not withdraw from Belgium and Britain declared war on Germany.
Aug 1914 Battle of Tannenberg
The Russian army marched into Prussia. However, because of the differences in railway gauge between Russia and Prussia it was difficult for the Russians to get supplies through to their men. The Germans, on the other hand, used their railway system to surround the Russian Second army at Tannenberg before it's commander could realise what was happening. The ensuing battle was a heavy defeat for the Russians with thousands of men killed and 125,000 taken prisoner. Although the Germans won the battle, 13,000 men were killed.
13 Aug 1914 Japan declared war on Germany
Japan declared war on Germany through her alliance with Great Britain, signed in 1902
Sept 1914 Battle of Masurian Lakes
Having defeated the Russian Second army, the Germans turned their attention to the Russian First army at Masurian Lakes. Although the Germans were unable to defeat the army completely, over 100,000 Russians were taken prisoner.
29 Oct 1914 Turkey
Turkey entered the war on the side of the central powers and gave help to a German naval bombardment of Russia.
2 Nov 1914 Russia declared war on Turkey
Because of the help given by Turkey to the German attack of Russia, Russia declared war on Turkey.
5 Nov 1914 Britain and France declared war on Turkey
Britain and France, Russia's allies, declared war on Turkey, because of the help given to the German attack on Russia.
late 1914 Early stages of the war
The German advance through Belgium to France did not go as smoothly as the Germans had hoped. The Belgians put up a good fight destroying railway lines to slow the transport of German supplies.
Despite a French counter-attack that saw the deaths of many Frenchmen on the battlefields at Ardennes, the Germans continued to march into France. They were eventually halted by the allies at the river Marne.
British troops had advanced from the northern coast of France to the Belgian town of Mons. Although they initially held off the Germans, they were soon forced to retreat.
The British lost a huge number of men at the first battle of Ypres.
By Christmas, all hopes that the war would be over had gone and the holiday saw men of both sides digging themselves into the trenches of the Western Front.
Dec 1914 Zeppelins
The first Zeppelins appeared over the English coast.
7 May 1915 Lusitania sunk
There outraged protests from the United States at the German U-boat campaign, when the Lusitania, which had many American passengers aboard, was sank. The Germans moderated their U-boat campaign.
23 May 1915 Italy
Italy entered the war on the side of the Allies.
2 Apr 1915 Second Battle of Ypres
Poison gas was used for the first time during this battle. The gas, fired by the Germans claimed many British casualties.
Feb 1915 Zeppelin bombing
Zeppelin airships dropped bombs on Yarmouth.
Feb 1915 Dardenelles
The Russians appealed for help from Britain and France to beat off an attack by the Turkish. The British navy responded by attacking Turkish forts in the Dardenelles.
Apr - Aug 1915 Dardenelles/ Gallipoli
Despite the loss of several ships to mines, the British successfully landed a number of marines in the Gallipoli region of the Dardenelles. Unfortunately the success was not followed up and the mission was a failure.
after Feb 1915 Winston Churchill resigns
Winston Churchill, critical of the Dardenelles campaign, resigned his post as First Lord of the Admiralty. He rejoined the army as a battalion commander.
April 1915 Zeppelins
The use of airships by the Germans increased. Zeppelins began attacking London. They were also used for naval reconnaissance, to attack London and smaller balloons were used for reconnaissance along the Western Front. They were only stopped when the introduction of aeroplanes shot them down.
early 1916 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill served in Belgium as lieutenant colonel of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
April 1916 Romania enter the war
Romania joined the war on the side of the Allies. But within a few months was occupied by Germans and Austrians.
31 May 1916 Battle of Jutland
This was the only truly large-scale naval battle of the war. German forces, confined to port by a British naval blockade, came out in the hope of splitting the British fleet and destroying it ship by ship. However, the British admiral, Beatty, aware that the German tactics were the same as those used by Nelson at Trafalgar, sent a smaller force to lure the German's into the range of Admiral Jellicoe's main fleet. Although Beatty's idea worked, the exchange of fire was brief and the German's withdrew.
1 June 1916 Battle of Jutland
The British and German naval forces met again but the battle was inconclusive. The German ships did a great deal of damage to British ships before once again withdrawing and the British Admiral Jellicoe decided not to give chase.
Although British losses were heavier than the German, the battle had alarmed both the Kaiser and the German Admiral Scheer and they decided to keep their fleet consigned to harbour for the remainder of the war.
28 Nov 1916 First Aeroplane raid
The first German air raid on London took place. The Germans hoped that by making raids on London and the South East, the British Air Force would be forced into protecting the home front rather than attacking the German air force.
Dec 1916 Lloyd George Prime Minister
Lloyd George became Prime Minister of the war time coalition. His war cabinet, unlike that of his predecessor, met every day. However, there was considerable disagreement among the members of the Cabinet, especially between Lloyd George and his war secretary, Sir Douglas Haig. Lloyd George suspected Haig of squandering life needlessly and was suspicious of his demands for more men and freedom of action in the field.
21 Feb - Nov 1916 Battle of Verdun
The Germans mounted an attack on the French at Verdun designed to 'bleed the French dry'. Although the fighting continued for nine months, the battle was inconclusive. Casualties were enormous on both sides with the Germans losing 430,000 men and the French 540,000.
1 July - Nov 1916 Battle of the Somme
The battle was preceded by a week long artillery bombardment of the German line which was supposed to destroy the barbed wire defences placed along the German line but only actually succeeded in making no mans land a mess of mud and craters. The five month long battle saw the deaths of 420,000 British soldiers (60,000 on the first day), 200,000 French soldiers and 500,000 German soldiers all for a total land gain of just 25 miles.
1917 New war commander
Lloyd George, who had never trusted his war minister's ability to direct the war, persuaded the Cabinet to appoint the French General Nivelle as supreme war commander over Haig's head. Haig was assured that the appointment was for one operation only and that if he felt the British army was being misused by the Frenchman he could appeal to the British government.
July - Nov 1917 W.front Passchendale
The operation commanded by the French General, Nivelle, went wrong and caused the loss of many French soldiers. Haig protested to the British government and advocated trying his own scheme for a breakthrough. At the resulting battle of Passchendale, Haig broke his promise to call off the battle if the first stage failed because he did not want to lose face with the government.
1917 Churchill Minister of Munitions
Following the heavy defeat at Passchendale, Lloyd George decided that he wanted Churchill in the Cabinet. Churchill was duly appointed Minister of Munitions.
1917 Reinforcements sent to Italy
The Italians had lost many men trying to hold the line between Italy and the Central Powers. British and French reinforcements were sent to hold the line.
early 1917 German U-boat campaign
In Germany, orders were given to step up the U-boat campaign. All allied or neutral ships were to be sunk on sight and in one month almost a million tons of shipping was sunk. Neutral countries became reluctant to ship goods to Britain and Lloyd George ordered all ships carrying provisions to Britain to be given a convoy.
6 April 1917 USA declares war on Germany
The United States of America declared war on Germany in response to the sinking, by German U boats, of US ships.
Nov 1917 W. Front Cambrai
The British took a large force of tanks across the barbed wire and machine gun posts at Cambrai.
Dec 1917 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Following the successful revolution by the Bolsheviks, the Russians signed an Armistice with Germany at Brest-Litovsk. The terms of the treaty were harsh: Russia had to surrender Poland, the Ukraine and other regions. They had to stop all Socialist propaganda directed at Germany and pay 300 million roubles for the repatriation of Russian prisoners.
April 1918 RAF formed
The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged to form the Royal Air Force.
8 - 11 Aug 1918 Battle of Amiens
The British general, Haig, ordered the attack of the German sector at Amiens. At the same time the news came through that the allies had broken through from Salonika and forced Bulgaria to sue for peace.
mid Oct 1918 Allies recover France and Belgium
The allies had taken almost all of German-occupied France and part of Belgium.
30 Oct 1918 Armistice with Turkey
The allies had successfully pushed the Turkish army back and the Turks were forced to ask for an armistice. The terms of the armistice treaty allowed the allies access to the Dardenelles.
early Nov 1918 Hindenberg line collapsed
By the beginning of November the allies had pushed the Germans back beyond the Hindenberg line.
9 Nov 1918 Kaiser abdicated
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated.
11 Nov 1918 Armistice signed
At 11 am, in the French town of Redonthes, the Armistice was signed bringing the war to an end.

Comment by John Schomisch | 19.03.2012

what difference dose it make if you have a mind or not?How much dose freedom of speach matter. When you have a country full of smart ass capitalist bullys forcing the other 99.7% to only what they have to say? I bought a party store from the last two people evacuated from the sigon embissy durring the fall of sigon.It was the day after 9-11 when I signed the papers.
I was worried about going into debt not knowing what was going to happen to the economy.I consoled in the previouse owner,she replied.This was the best thing that could have happened for me.Every one will get layed off from work and have nothing but just enough time and money to drink..Sher exspressed to me that I was going to be rich.
That evening out with the previouse owners celebrating the sale and purchass of our bussiness.My wife exspressed to the previouse owners,That we were Democrates the previouse owner replied that we were no longer Democrates we were now buissiness owners and have now become Repubicans.She exsplained That we were to" take" the Democrates for every dime there worth.When they cryed they couldent give any more.We should Steal it. The Statement has ruiened me. I no longer have faith in america.When we as americans can free a people from communism only to bring them to our country to engage in slowly steeling from there fellow americans anything and everything they can get there hands on.Wanna get rich in America Invest all your money in Booze then figure out how to destroy the economy for a certain percentage of its people(How bout the democrates).Why not use a terrorist attack to do it?That would be the makeings of a fast turn arround of an investment.
Thanks for the time line annonamouse,How bout comming up with one for the fleeceing of America. I wonder if it started with a government offical burnning millions of dollars on the roof of the american embissy in sigon as it fell. After witch he put his vietnemees hooker on a chopper got the hell out of there to go back to America and steal from there neighbores(The Democrats)As far as Im concerned, The Republicans won a war in Vietnam and the Demorates are still fighting it in America?

Comment by Dizzy | 19.03.2012

Henry II get real you retard. If it weren't for France, the US would not exist. Who do you think provided the most significant military aide to the fledgling Continental army?

Kin Geore the 3rd for ettin England into 3 wars ar once, the least of the three bein the American revolution

Comment by Bdjive | 19.03.2012

It never ceaes to amaze me that the finding of something that dates back perhaps 70 some years can and does bring back to the surface the dangerous ignorance of some, the deeply rooted hatred for whomever, the French in that case, but tomorrow can be any other nation that does not constantly and unconditionally " kiss ass" with the US. And as far as the "cultural influence" goes (Adam) ...are you refering to fast food? Drugs? Violence? A complex of superiority? Academic shortcomings in the population at large? ...we could do
much better, really we could and we should....but, as the ever criticized French would say: c'est la vie!

Comment by for everyone | 19.03.2012

the americans in both wars wanted to stay out of the conflict until it was brought to us. in ww1, the sinking of many ships from the US caused us to get involved. in ww2, the germans would have easily conquered europe if the US did not get involved. The sunk US vessels then as well. (just think what the profile or europe woul be if the US had not stepped in... (The russians would have stopped them at the border- they are tough) The US forgave all war debts for both wars. For that, we do expect a bit of respect for remainder of your county's lives.

Comment by my2scense | 19.03.2012

knatz really 1942 not 1941 or whenever pearl harbor?
come on.. we went to fight the war "over there" because we couldnt and didnt want a war over here.. and if you care to read.. we were invaded by Japan in alaska in 1941.. until we manage to let the cold weather kick the crap out of them and once cornered the all just ate a granade...

Comment by LeonBattistaAlberti | 19.03.2012

Hey Guys: Please get off the WWII thing with the French. Remember we would not have succeeded in our Revolution without their aid.

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