Veteran Johannes Börner, symbol of Franco-German reconciliation, has passed away
On 6 June 2014 in Ouistreham, the hug between the German veteran Johannes Börner and the French veteran Léon Gautier had become the symbol of reconciliation on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
Photo: IAN LANGSDON / POOL / AFP
May 23rd, 2018 : Death of German veteran Johannes Börner, symbol of Franco-German reconciliation
Author: EF
Information source: France 3 Normandie
“On June 6, 2014, the hug of the German veteran Johannes Borner with French veteran Léon Gautier had marked the hearts and minds of the spectators of the anniversary of the landing. The two men, enemies in 1944, had become friends and symbolized Franco-German reconciliation.
Born July 5, 1925, he was 18 years old in June 1944. Corporal at the German paratroopers, he had been called with his company on the Normandy front to repel the Allies at the sea. Installed in Normandy after 1944, this Ouistrehamais of adoption had become friends with the French veteran Léon Gautier. He died this Sunday [20 May 2018, Ed].”
