There is one theory has to what may have happened.
The two towns are very similar in appearance and Gerlach might have mistaken Oradour-sur-Glane for Oradour-sur-Vayres.
Gerlach managed to escape and he report to Stadler what had happened.
Sylvester Stadler believed that the kidnapped officer Kampfe was being held prisoner at Oradour-sur-Glane.
Diekmann instead ordered the population exterminated and the village burned to the ground.
Stadler felt Diekmann had far exceeded his orders and began a judicial investigation.
