As the Germans advanced along the Somme throughout May and June 1940, more and more tanks, cannons and munitions passed through Rue. One resident of Rue remembered how the sky towards Abbeville being red. The town was literally burning. Seeing Stukas or Messerschmitts (German fighter aeroplanes) in the skies over Rue was a common sight. By 22 May 1940, the German control of Northern France was becoming more visible. Barbed wire was appearing along roads around Rue and military outposts had been established. In Rue, the German Commander implemented military rule. Identity cards were distributed and a curfew was set at 2100h. Identity cards (called Ausweis) had to be collected Montreuil. These gave permission to be in what was called the ‘Red Zone’ - the area between the northern coast of France and the Somme. In June 1940, inhabitants of Rue were instructed to paint over any windows on the roofs of factories so that they could not be seen from the air.