German soldier who saved Bordeaux from Nazis dies aged 92
12 April 2012
A former German officer who saved Bordeaux from destruction by Nazi forces in the Second World War has died aged 92.
Henri Salmide, born Heinz Stahlschmidt, then a junior officer in the German navy, defied superiors who planned to blow up the port before retreating. Instead, he blew up the depot where the 4,000 fuses were stored.
He escaped and hid with Bordeaux deputy mayor Alain Moga's grandmother. He was naturalised and married a French woman after the war, remaining in the city for the rest of his life, and was decorated with the Légion d'honneur in 2000.
Bordeaux city hall said it intended to build a memorial in honour of Mr Salmide.
