After 9 years of investigation, the trial at Bordeaux began on 12 January 1953.
Due to lack of precise proof, the absence of participants and amnesia of all the accused ~ it was very difficult to investigate and prove what had occurred.
Of the 65 identified participants, only 21 appeared in court ~ 7 Germans and 14 French Alsatians. All were members of the Das Reich division.
Not a single officer appeared in court!

General Lammerding - did not appear at the trial in Bordeaux. In an affidavit sent to the tribunal, he claimed that he knew nothing about the massacre in Oradour until it was over. He stated that the actions of the SS soldiers were justified as they were only following orders. He returned to Dusseldorf as the head of a thriving business and died in 1971.

Major Dickmann - was brought before a court-martial; however, the verdict was never made known. He died on 29 June 1944 while serving on the Normandy front. Dickman was hit on his unprotected head by shrapnel and died.

Captain Kahn - lost an arm during an air raid. It was posted that he went missing some time later. It is unknown what ever happened to him.

Second Lieutenant Barth - sentenced to life imprisonment at his trial in East Berlin, 1983. His only regret was not being able to enjoy his grandchildren due to his incarceration.