Jersey
under the Swastika!

Page 29 - Philip Frederick Le Sauteur

CHAPTER NINE (SECTION 3)

1941

To summarise the position at the close of the first twelve months of the occupation — in spite of everything to the contrary life in general was far nearer to the normal than might be imagined.

The town, undoubtedly, presented a depressing spectacle of empty shop windows, with always more German soldiers than civilians in the streets — very different from the St. Helier of happier days, with its busy throngs of people and well-stocked shops. The change in the country districts was less marked, but it was still clearly apparent. German road signs, the numerous German troops billeted in country hotels and private houses, the German cars and motor cycles dashing about — all served as a consultant reminder that the Island had an unusual batch of visitors.

People kept themselves busily occupied in overcoming the difficulties presented by the dearth of the many little things which they had hitherto taken for granted. The way in which the transport problem was tackled, for instance, has been touched upon in another part of this story, though by this time many cycles and trailers were themselves presenting problems to those concerned — tyres and other replacements had long since disappeared, and many ingenious methods of repairing defects had been devised. Necessity at all times is undoubtedly the mother of invention! Particularly so under the stress of war conditions.

Cinemas were still open, American films being shown occasionally, but more frequently the films were of German origin, with English captions. Other entertainments were provided in the shows put on by local amateurs, and occasionally by companies which came to Jersey to entertain the occupying forces — to these latter shows the public were usually invited, but many of the population, however, preferred to remain away.

Public houses were still open, though they were only able to offer their customers cider and wine. All other drinks had long since vanished from the scene — elsewhere!

Gas and electricity were still available, but they were severely rationed. There had been times when the reserve stocks of coal and fuel oil for producing them were down to a few days' supply, and it looked as if the supply of one or the other would cease altogether. However, supplies always seemed to come along just in time to prevent a power famine.

Excepting for odd items here and there, clothing and footwear were no longer purchasable, but in the majority of cases the effect of this had not been felt beyond a slightly increased shabbiness.

In the middle of the year orders were published relating to traffic regulations as well as fishing. On these one can comment — in common with most of the less important orders, and in contrast to the most important, these were set out without economy of words. In the regulations covering fishing, it was decreed that 20% of all fish caught belonged to the Germans, but from all accounts they had been accustomed to taking much more than this portion. Apparently, a 20% out meant something different for them.

An offer was made for all school children to learn German voluntarily after ordinary school hours, the lessons being given without cost by a German teacher.

Order after order — an almost continuous stream! One was issued on July 5th in which all mains radio sets belonging to evacuated persons were requisitioned. and it was further demanded that a complete duplicated inventory of the effects of such persons be handed in to the Befelshaber (Military Commandant) in order that any goods required for the occupying forces might be selected.

Actually, this particular order was a few days behind events, for many hundreds of mattresses in storage, and belonging to evacuees, had already been confiscated for the use of the numerous German troops arriving. The idea was possibly to give them a few days in Jersey to recuperate from R.A.F. attention before being sent to the Russian front. R.A.F. activity over France bad been particularly heavy, even Granville, hitherto left open as a channel for supplies for the Islands, receiving a share of attention.

Following quickly on the heels of the last-mentioned order, came another, requiring that all single mattresses belonging to evacuees be handed in immediately.

The Germans would have their little joke! Finding themselves unable to check the "V" campaign all over Europe, on the morning of July 18th they themselves adopted the sign, and everything belonging to them — cars, lorries, hotels, offices — was decorated with an ornate "V", complete with laurel leaves!

The tame pigeons in the Royal Square which like those in London's Trafalgar Square, had been almost a part of the scenery, were rounded up — a half-hearted attempt had been made when the original order banning pigeons had been issued, but was not persevered with. The reason may have been the presence a few days earlier of the flock of pigeons, probably some of which had been taken away from Jersey — in order to be sure of getting these, it was probably deemed necessary to make a clean sweep of the birds. Pigeons can be associated with more things than public buildings and churches.

Rumour was rife over the matter of the aversion of the German troops to being sent to Russia, and some of them were said to have been, "encouraged" aboard their ships at the point of a revolver, whilst the suicide of some officers was also reported, even if unofficially. However that may have been, the patrols during this period were going around in large groups instead of in pairs, and were armed with hand-grenades as well as rifles.

R.A.F. specialization in shipping attacks had resulted in a considerable number of ships being seen passing the Island, probably preferring to hug the coast and Islands instead of going due west from Cherbourg. The Islands vainly waited for Coastal Command to get wise to this particular move, and to provide first-hand evidence of how it was done.

In spite of the fact that they had officially joined in the "V" game, the Germans did not encourage local attempts to assist them. One person who decorated her house with "V's" was lucky to be only reprimanded, whilst two young women received a sentence of nine months' imprisonment in France for the "crime" of picking up a paper "V" which was lying in the road and sticking it on a wall. Dealt with at the same time for a similar offence, a Guernseyman was awarded a sentence of twelve months!

It was also rumoured — though not officially confirmed as were the other two sentences — that another man was in goal awaiting shipment to a prison camp for being in possession of one hundred sticks of gelignite, this having been stolen from a quarry, and another for having been found chalking a "V" sign in the roadway after curfew.

Evidence of expectancy of trouble, orders were issued relative to precautions against incendiary "leaves", and the threat of the death penalty for anyone harbouring the crews of "enemy" aircraft was repeated. It was noteworthy that the latest A.R.P. regulations referred to "alarms or air raid alarms" — this being the first indication of a realization of the possibilities of invasion in the reverse direction. The curfew in the Military Zone was again altered, this time to 10.0 p.m.

Immense quantities of war materials — guns, ammunition, cement and other building materials — were still being brought over, as many as sixteen large ships unloading simultaneously in the piers. Ammunition dumps were set up at various places, including one which was very close to town.

A.A. guns opened up on the night of August 1st but without result.

Possibly an "old soldier's dodge to avoid being transferred to the Russian front, two Germans broke into a private house by shooting out the lock, knocking out the old lady who lived there, and stealing some money. When two local policemen were sent along to deal with the matter, the Germans injured one of them as well. The case was suppressed — shall we say "naturally"? — but it must be admitted here that this was an exceptional case, and none indicating the customary sort of behaviour by the troops.

During August an order was issued requisitioning the whole of the property of evacuees, these items being for the use of the Army of Occupation. The keys of such premises were to be surrendered immediately in order that the goods sought after might be taken over.

An order was published about this time once again requiring the registration of all cars of 1935/40 vintage.

A more general order was also issued, this dealing with the rationing of coal, coke, wood and peat. This move clearly indicated to the population that the all-important factor of domestic — as well as industrial — fuel had become a matter of urgency to the controlling authorities.

Unofficial, but confirmed by numerous connecting details, came the news of a German soldier who had deserted his post, and secured civilian clothing after shooting one of the officers. He was later recaptured in the loft of a house in town, having crept there after removing part of the roof.

The large amount of work which was entailed in the Island's occupation naturally attracted contracting firms, and a building firm in Germany — the first of several on the same mission — set up in the Island to undertake German contracts. Quite a number of German artisans arrived at the same time, but the remainder of the employees were recruited locally. In order to overcome any scruples, a local foreman was appointed, and he advertised in his own name, in addition to the firm's advertisements, for labour of all kinds.

At this time the petrol shortage became so acute that a number of French engineers were brought over and several buses were adapted to producer gas. Meanwhile, the few gallons held in reserve for A.R.P. services had to be handed over to keep even the reduced bus service going. Some indication of the actual shortage may be gained from the fact that a huge river barge, capable of carrying upwards of 1,000 tons, had made four trips to bring 290 tons of fuel oil for the electric power station — prior to the arrival. of the first small parcel by this barge, there was only sufficient oil to maintain electricity supplies for a very few days, whilst the supply of coal for the production of gas was also exceeding short.

The various economies and difficulties to be overcome in the most trying of circumstances to which people can be subjected — that of being subject to the whims and fancies of an occupying power under war conditions — resulted in the practical display of much ingenuity by almost everybody, things which in normal conditions would not be regarded as in the interests of economy. Even economy can be selective in character. It is difficult enumerating all that took place almost everywhere. In the more specialized lines, use was made of rubber lino and of wood for the soling of footwear, whilst under the aegis of the States Labour Department old-type besom brooms and buckets of zinc with wooden bottoms were made. The dearth of wireless batteries resulted in a revival of the old Leclanche cell, whilst in some cases car batteries were employed in conjunction with Ford coils.