Hello again. 

Today is the 70th Anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day)  and that is when the Germans on the Channel Islands decided to give up to the Allies.

I have reached this point in  my family's history and it is then that both sets of family were freed, and eventually return home to Jersey.

In Wurzach, the months between Dec 1944 and Liberation on 28 April 1945 were some of the most depressing of their time there.  Major Ray had taken over as Camp Deputy after the removal of the divisive Captain Hilton; and he had to lead everyone through the winter months.  After the destruction of Frankfurt and the internee post awaiting delivery, there was no mail delivery for months.  The distribution of Red Cross Parcels was cut from once a week to once a fortnight.  The school rooms were surrendered in early 1945 to house 72 Jewish internees from Bergen/Belsen.   The Rev. Cecil Atyeo from Jersey died in camp and there was a request to Biberach camp for a priest to move across.  They all refused, the reason given was that there was no single room for him, almost impossible in an overcrowded camp like Wurzach.   In Jan 1945 a large group of British and Dutch Jews arrived to be interned, this left the Schloss even more overcrowded and tensions apparently began to mount.   

Meanwhile the Allies were pushing into Germany and the news of the front is recorded in Doughty's diary.

'18 April De Gaulle's troops are heading this way.

23 April Thousands (of German refugees) have passed ---- in the last 48 hours, probably without any food.

24 April Rumour has it that the Americans or French are only 8 miles away.

SATURDAY 28 APRIL - LIBERATION HAS COME.
At 12 noon a tank was seen coming over the top of the hill----the tank had stopped---the least sign of opposition would have been the end ----- because the French told us afterwards all their guns were trained on this building thinking it to be a German headquarters.  -- we in the camp owe our lives to the German Volkstorm, the old men of the village who ran towards the tanks with white flags.'

The French Morroccan troops did not believe the internees were British until they made little Union Jacks for their lapels and pointed them out.  The French took away the Schloss guards, who were actually village police, and were going to shoot them until the internees told them that they were not concentration camp guards.  The guards saved the internees and then the internees saved the guards.

On May 8 1945 the war in Europe ceased and a Union Jack was finally hoisted over the camp.  The picture below is of that moment and comes from the collection of R.H.Mayne my second cousin as published in Roger Harris' book.

Hoisting the Union Jack in the Camp Courtyard, from Islanders Deported by Roger Harris.

On May 29 the news of the date of the repatriation was announced, and on June 2 1945 the first 300 islanders were taken to Mengin and then flown by Dakota to England.  Within a week the rest followed. 

 

Repatriation,  Internees --waiting to be flown to England, another photo from the R.H.Mayne collection.

 

There were several 'wits' who made up poems on departure and this is an anonymous one collected by Roger Harris.

 

Goodbye to the Schloss

We've got another boss

Since the Fuehrer's fallen rather low!

Now we've got the keys

Goodbye to the fleas, Thanks for  the stay

But we must go!

 

Meanwhile back on Jersey --- 

 

No fuel was issued on the ration at all in  February, no heating, cooking or lighting again.  The islands were running out of flour, due to a mistake by the British Red Cross, who stated  that the Vega was only to take flour on it's third trip.    The Bailiff of the island made the following announcement on Feb 6 1945,

 

'--the civilian bread ration must be reduced by half--  The stocks of flour and of grain under our own control would  not maintain the civil bread ration on the existing scale beyond the 10th February. The proposed cut should make possible a continuation of the bread ration for a week after February 10th. If help does not reach us by then, --- the bread ration must cease entirely.   A.M.Coutanche, Bailiff.' 

 

The Vega arrives back on February 13th with her second supply of Red Cross parcels, which were given out on February 20th. 

 

The new commander of the Channel Islands was Vice-Admiral Huffmeyer  who said 'I have only one aim: to hold out until final victory.'

 

A fire broke out in March in a hotel, next to the ammunition dump, yep, you've guessed it, the ammo dump went up too.

 

Allied planes were overhead everyday as the allied armies battled through Europe to Germany.  In early April German troops are ordered to shoot without warning at thieves targeting growing food or the famous Jersey glasshouses. 

 

May.  'By the beginning of May 1945 the German army had been completely defeated.'  June Money.  The news of Hitler's death comes overnight and 'It is learned that ---- the possibility of the Germans holding out -- is becoming less likely'  L.P.Sinel.   Union Jacks are beginning to be seen around the island as rumours went all round the civilians.  The German soldiers were depressed, scruffy and underfed; they began telling the islanders that they were 'Poles, Czechs, Austrians,- anything but German'  L.P.Sinel.   Huffmeer tried to get an armistice but had to surrender finally on board HMS Bulldog moored in Guernsey. 

 

 

Crowds gathering to meet the liberators.   June Money Aspects of War, The German Occupation of the Channel Islands.

 

 

May 8 1945.  The day was of great expectation and then nothing happened.  Then the children were sent home from school and loudspeakers were erected.  The E.P. bulletin announced that Winston Churchill was to speak at 3.00pm and at 3 a great cheer arose as he started to speak.  When he referred to 'our dear Channel Islands' being freed another huge cheer went up.  Union jacks and flags were hoisted at the end of it and the prisoners held by the Germans were slowly being freed too.  The British Navy was approaching Jersey and on May 9, HMS Beagle hove into view.

Two British naval officers, Lieut. R Milne and Surgeon-Lieut. Macdonald landed and were mobbed by the islanders.  The first thing they did was hang a Union Jack out of the Harbour Office window to huge cheers.  More forces arrived, many of them Jerseymen, the first being Captain High Le Broque, who had left in 1940 with his unit.

 

The Germans gave up their arms willingly enough and were put to work cleaning up. By May 13 the bus services were restored and so was the telephone service.  Sterling currency was restored and the German rule of the road Drive on the Right was changed back to driving on the left.  All through May celebrations went on and memorials for the dead were held, prisoners freed and sent home and on June  7 1945 their Royal Highness' King George and Queen Elizabeth visited the island. 

 

Some of the Internees did not arrive back until September 1945 but they did get home.  I have not been able to find out when my family reached home but they did; and here they are.

 

 

From Left to Right  Fredrick Bernard (Bern) my grandfather,  Jean? wife of Richard Mayne, the boy who tried to get the German chocolate,  Elizabeth (Betty from the letters) Bern's wife and my grandmother,   Aunty Dolly, from the letters,  the younger man is either Robert Junior (Bobbie from the letters) or Richard, and the man on the right is Bob (Bob from the letters) my grandfathers younger brother. 

 

Writing this blog has been quite emotional for me and I have cried a few tears towards the end.  I have found out quite a lot about the hardships faced by my family and I am glad that they all came home.

 

 

Thanks

 

My thanks go to

Mrs Bernice Smart, nee Mayne, my mother,who I still miss; who gave my sister and I the courage to just go for it (and a fund of war stories.)

Mrs Betty Fry, nee Mayne, my mother's sister.

Mr Richard Mayne,  who was wise enough to gather much information and give it to The St   

  Peters Bunker War Museum.

 

 

Bibliography

 

Richard Mayne. Jersey Occupied. Jarrold and Sons.  1970.  ISBN 853062137.

Roger. E Harris.  Islanders Deported.  Part 1.   Channel Islands Publishing Society.  1980.  ISBN

  0902633635.

Roger. E. Harris.  Islanders Deported. Part 2.  Channel Islands Publishing Society. 1983.  ISBN

  0946806039.

L.P.Sinel.  The German Occupation of Jersey.  Corgi Books.  1945.  ISBN 552080985.

Dr. John Lewis.  A Doctor's Occupation.  Starlight Publishing.  1982.  ISBN 09525665919.

R.C.F.Maugham.  Jersey Under the Jackboot.  W.H.Allen & Co.Ltd.  1946.  ISBN 0450047148.

June Money.  Aspects of War.  The German Occupation of the Channel Islands.   J.P. Money.  1985. 

Roy Thornton Collection.    Photo included in 'TS Dinard, Past and Present' by Ray Goodfellow at

  www.doverferryphotoforum.com .

The Channel Islands Monthy Review, Journal of Channel Islands Refugees in Great Britain.  Printed by Swain & Co, Ltd, 'Advertiser' Office, Stockport.

 

 

References

 

Preston Doughty, diaries kept secretly at Wurzach Internment camp, quoted by Roger.E.Harris.  Islanders Deported Part 1. 

Red Cross Organisation at www.redcross.org.uk  for the contents of Red Cross Parcels and the leaflets on posting to Prisoners of War. 

 



Welcome.  Today I am moving into less certain waters as I have only one letter and a telegram reply for 1944.  I have previously noted the bombing of Frankfurt where the post was destroyed, so I will be looking at first hand testimony as far as possible.

                                                                 Internee Letter 16.1.1943
The text reads

Dear Betty; thank you very much for your most welcome letters, which we receive pretty regularly.  So your Bernice is still a pickle, of course they are at that age, when girls start to take notice.  They have taken to make up, personally, I don't blame them, a little bit makes such a difference doesn't it?  We ought to know? Betty I know I am a nuisance , but if it is ever possible could you or Elsie possibly get me a summer frock, light one preferred, I'm still small, not put on an middle-aged spread yet, have you? with a collar preferred.  Bob received 200 fags yesterday, still smokes pretty heavily, surprised to hear Bern has given up smoking, couldn't imagine my old man doing that.  Heard from Mum and Em about fortnight back, they are quite alright and still as bright as ever.  Mum is really wonderful, how she can see the bright side of everything, wish I could sometimes, it seems endless.  Well Betty must close now thanking you and wishing you all the very best, hoping to see you all again, soon, gee what a day? Heaps of love to you, Bob and Betty and Bernice,   Love Doll and Bob

Dolly expects to be there into the summer and is asking for a frock well in advance as it sometimes took months for things to get there.

I know I have shown you this one before, but it was replied to on 16.10.1943  and seems to have gotten back to England on 21 March 1944. 

                                             Channel Islands Monthly Review February 1944

In a previous blog I quoted from Islanders Deported by Roger Harris on the funeral of Mr Bull.  There was a formal announcement of his death in the Monthly Review.  Although not part of my family, I put it here as a tribute to all of the internees in every camp.

The text reads

                                                           Died in Germany
We regret to announce the death of Mr Stephen Lewis Bull, late of Bellozanne Road, Jersey, who with his wife and little girl was deported to Germany in Sept,1942. Mr Bull, who was aged 40, died on Nov.29,1943, after a fortnight's illness.  The funeral took place in deep snow.  Mrs Bull says the doctors and nurses did everything that was possible and that friends in the camp at Wurzach are very kind.  Mr Bull had been on the staff of Le Riche's Stores.  He and Mrs Bull were well known by their work in connection with Belmont Hall.  Since deportation Mr Bull had taught children in the camp school and also conducted services on Sundays.

The next bit will come as no surprise to you all I am sure.   D-Day, 6th June 1944 was launched, and it was decided by the Allies that the Channel Islands would be by-passed and liberated after the rest of Europe. The Germans could not launch a counter offensive from there, and they were cut off from mainland Europe by the success of the Landings.   The Germans were forced to sit out the rest of the war in Hitler's Impregnable Island Fortress. 


The German Occupation of Jersey b L.P.Sinel

'June 6. INVASION. From the early hours we guessed something unusual was happening, owing to the large number of planes passing over. --- The Germans immediately took over the telephone service, but in spite of this, news spread, smiling faces indicated that the day had arrived for which we had waited so long.  ---  German secret police are now in uniform and at the moment there are  about 7,000 troops in the Island.  --  German nurses --were embarked (for France).  The majority of the troops have been spread around the coasts.'

Both the Channel Island people and the Germans were cut off from any kind of aid and relief.  German military personnel who escaped from mainland Europe landed on the Islands, swelling the total population, to live on the depleted resources left by the German exports.  There were very few Jersey or Guernsey cattle left, either for meat or milk, most had gone to Germany over the previous 4 years.  The famous tomato and potato crops were reduced by blight and an exceptionally wet winter.  The thousands of slave labourers imported by the Organisation Todt were starving, the Germans were getting thinner and sicker, and the Islanders were starving and feeling cut adrift by the British Government.  'By the end of August, it was perfectly evident that, unless relief came speedily, the coming Winter would bring with it a degree of suffering that few could have foreseen or anticipated.' Jersey under the Jackboot.  R.C.F. Maugham

Rations had been in force for 5 years and the States Assembly, (the civilian ruling body) decided not to cut the rations further but to maintain the already starvation levels to the civilian population and let the chips fall where they may

                                          List of Rations over the 5 year period of the occupation.
                                            from The German Occupation of Jersey by L.P.Sinel

Everyone was getting closer to starvation, and the German Troops and the slave workers(when they could escape from the camps) were stealing any food they could.  Seed potatoes were dug up after planting to be eaten, pets were stolen and killed for food (not that there were many left) and hedgerows were picked clean of edible weeds.  At one point 5lbs of potatoes were given on the ration, but 1/2 of them were rotten, so another 5lb had to be given out.

Nov 22 1944  A rumour went round that negotiations for supplies had succeeded and that help for the civilians was on the way.  The States Assembly consider a plan to sell seawater to the population as supplies of salt had run out.

December 1944
November's fuel ration still not received by many, so no heat, light or cooking. The paraffin ration is now 1/2 pint per month, so again no heat, light or cooking.  The Germans demand 2,000 head of live poultry be collected in to feed the troops Christmas dinner.  Suicide by gassing disappeared from the islands as there was no gas left and no coal to produce it from.


Finally in Dec 1944, It was announced that the Red Cross ship SS Vega, sent from Portugal, Britain's oldest ally, would arrive with Red Cross Parcels for the Islands, stopping at Guernsey first and then Jersey. The Germans immediately began confiscating any food they could, supposing that the civilians were being fed from outside. 3,000 Chickens were finally  taken away, the oats for the farm horses, and the seed potatoes in store for spring planting. 

                                                              Red Cross SS Vega

The Vega finally arrived on Dec 31 1944 and left on Jan 4 1945.  The Swiss Red Cross workers were kept away from the locals, who presumed it was to keep them from reporting the German atrocities.  The ship was unloaded by Germans and cargo went straight into a set apart warehouse under German
control. 

The Red Cross Parcels were donated by the Canadian, New Zealand and British Red Cross.  There were medical supplies, (there had been no anaesthetics for operations for months), a supply of salt, and tobacco.  Lady Campbell, the wife of the Ambassador to Portugal had supplied 'a number of layettes' for the babies.  Clothing was irreplaceable so there were no clothes for new babies on the island, they had all worn out with repeated use.  A fund for the Red Cross was immediately started by the Islanders, which eventually reached £130,000.  The parcels were given out on Jan 4th, 5th, and 6th 1945. 

              Contents of the average WW2 Red Cross Parcel, reproduced from the website of the
                                                                  British Red Cross.



There is a family story that a ration of tea was included in the parcels, and one family reverently made their pot of tea in their trusty teapot, which had not been used since the tea ration ended in Dec 1941.  They all sat down at the table and someone picked up the teapot by its handle, which promptly fell off.  So no tea was had in  that house. 

That's all so far,  next time I will tell you about the same period in Wurzach and finally I hope to end with the Liberation, in Wurzach in April 1945, and Jersey in May 1945.


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