Explosive ordnance research on ground fighting - working in the castle?

Anyone entering the archives of the French Ministry of Defence (Service historique de la Défense) in Vincennes can feel a bit like a king - after all, the archives are located in the Château de Vincennes, the residence of the French kings from the 12th to 18th centuries. The reading room is located on the second floor of the 17th century Pavillon du Roi, the king's wing, and creates a truly royal working atmosphere with its chandeliers and large-format paintings.

The reason for this royal business trip in May was research into ground battles in a town near the French border in the German Rhine region, which was captured by French troops in 1945. The Service historique de la Défense holds, among other things, French army records from the Second World War period. From the daily reports of the various units, it is possible to reconstruct the days on which certain locations were taken and where fighting took place. This is important for assessing the risk of explosive ordnance contamination prior to ground-engaging measures such as construction work.