The Château du Broutel was occupied by the Nazis. Officers stayed in the bedrooms while the non-commissioned officers slept in the corridors and the landing. The Longvilliers family, who owned the Château during the war, were forced to live in one bedroom. La Marquise de Longvilliers, the wife of the Château's proprietor (Le Marquis de Longvillers) during the war had a reputation for standing up to the German occupiers. When the German troops arrived at Château du Broutel, they hammered nails into the walls to create their own cloakroom. Mme. Longvillers was more than displeased. She was a German speaker who was a stronger supporter of Charles De Gaulle's (French General and War hero) resistance army. She found the German General in the region and demanded that the nails be removed. The General proceeded to order the removal of the nails from the wall.