Jersey
under the Swastika!

Page 48 - Philip Frederick Le Sauteur

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (SECTION 3)

Toward the End

At about this time, Major-General von Schmettow, Military Commander of the Islands, retired "for health reasons", and Major Heider, who had been acting as Civil Commandant of Jersey, and some high members of his staff were transferred to executive posts. The Command of the Islands was given to Vice-Admiral Hueffmiere, and it was reported that in the order of the day issued on his taking over he referred to his personal promise to Hitler that, whatever happened, he would hold the Channel Islands to the last man, even after the end of the war in Germany. Gommand of Jersey was taken over by General Wolfe and an attempt was made on his life by a German soldier shortly afterwards.

The German underground movement issued their second leaflet about mid-March, the text of which was as follows:

On the evening of the 18th there was another fire, accompanied by the explosion of much ammunition, at a garage (German-occupied) in St. John's Road. The building was completeily destroyed, but there were no casualties, and damage to surrounding property was confined to broken windows.

The fifth issue of Red Cross parcels came on the 27th, and the curfew for Easter Sunday and Monday, much to everyone's surprise, was extended till midnight. Despite the official lack of radio sets, there were very few people in Jersey unaware of the special broadoast to the Islands on the 29th, and the great majority managed to hear it on one or other of the many illicit sets still operating. The main purpose of the broadcast was to assure the Islanders that they were constanly in the thoughts of all people in England.

There followed a period when the German underground movement was quiet, though the local High Command found it necessary to put over one or two "pep" talks to German units at the Forum. The Fortress Commandant issued a warning that from 8.0 p.m. each day armed patrols would be about, with orders to shoot at anyone seen robbing or loitering in fields or greenhouses, this to stop pilfering.

Allied aircraft passed over the Island on the evening April 7th, and again on the forenoon of the 10th, being greeted on each occasion by a short burst of flak. The VEGA arrived in Jersey this same week-end, bringing parcels, flour, sugar, salt, soap, matches, seeds, yeast, flints, candles, paraffin, leather, boots, textiles and medical requirements. Another issue of food parcels was made the following week.

The R.A.F. were again in evidence on the night of the 20th, when they dropped a series of vivid flares, indicating a photographic reconnaisance.

Owing to the extreme fuel shortage, it became necessary to make considerable modifications to the scheme for communal cooking, and many of the centres were compelled to close down.

The potato ration faded out at the end of April, an extra 1 lb. bread being issued in lieu.

The third German leaflet was issued at about this time, the following being a translation:

It was reported that the expected rising was due to begin on the morning of May lst, and it may have been the obviously imminent end of the war which caused its cancellation. Probably in order to hamper the organization of such an attempt at a rising, there was a considerable movement of troops from one part of the Island to another. The only thing known locally, apart from reports in the press, of the German Commando raid on Cherbourg was the sound of the duel between the guns of Alderney and those on the French coast, which lasted for several days after the raid.

 LIBERATION. On May 5th, two German patrol boats were seen to leave the harbour and proceed in the direction of St. Malo, returning later in the day. Soon after their return, it was reported that the Germans were clearing minefields in various parts of the Island. Whether or not these vessels made contact with the Allied Authorities surrender had not been made clear.