Ringo
Gold Member
In 1940 Churchill gave a fiery speech about a possible invasion of Britain by Nazi Germany: "We will fight on the coast, at the landing points, in the fields and in the streets and in the hills, we will never surrender." It sounded beautiful, but here is what was in reality, when the Germans occupied in 1940-1945 British territory in Europe - the Channel Islands off the coast of France: during the occupation did not sound a single shot, for 66 thousand British on the islands did not find a single partisan. Not a single German soldier was killed or even wounded.
The general opinion was expressed by one Dr. John Lewis: "any sabotage would not only be dangerous, but completely counterproductive." No one came out to fight in the fields and streets. The courts worked, but according to the laws of the Third Reich, the British police continued to serve on the streets - only they were paid in Reichsmarks. Movies and theaters worked. The British did not moan about oppression. Volunteer units guarded the airfields from where the planes took off to bomb London. Everyone was certain that London would fall.
"Resistance? What resistance?"- British writer Madeleine Bunting, who wrote a book about the occupation in the Nineties, was asked in amazement by the islanders. 570 people were sent to concentration camps in Europe - among them three Jews, three communists, the rest "for criminal offenses" (breaking curfew, stealing food from warehouses), 22 never returned.
No, there was resistance. A man refused to share a house with his wife, who sewed clothes for German soldiers. Another time a German at a citizen's post took a picture of his daughter without permission. He bravely complained to the commandant's office, and the soldier was transferred to another house.
By the way, the soldiers were paid generously. Whistle-blowing was widespread, informers received 20-50 Reichsmarks for their denunciation. For example, one islander denounced three friends for listening to British radio, and they were sent to prison."Two good friends" betrayed an old woman who hid an escaped prisoner.
After the liberation, the traitors were not convicted, because, you know, it happens: what's the big deal, people wanted to make a little money. Not a single incident of collaboration was investigated. There was one incident of real bravery. Mary Ozanne, a Salvation Army preacher, protested against the cruelty to Soviet POWs on the islands. She was warned it would not end well. She said she didn't care.The woman was imprisoned where she died in April 1943.
Other cases of resistance - For example, an incident where a drunken German soldier was coming down the stairs and the English policemen saw this and did not help him.He fell down and passed out - then they called an ambulance.That's how brave people were.
There were 4 concentration camps on the islands for prisoners of war (mostly from the USSR) to build fortifications. 700 people died and are buried on the island. Sometimes they were hidden and fed, but in general acts of kindness were sporadic. The islanders did not want to quarrel with the Germans. But they allegedly treated the prisoners with sympathy.
On May 9, 1945, the German troops on the islands capitulated - and on one island they surrendered on May 16, because no one came for them.
The islanders cheered the British, and officials promptly removed portraits of Hitler, swastika flags, and hung portraits of the king. The center now has a square of Liberation from the yoke of the accursed occupation.The same police that served under the Germans have continued to serve in honor of the king.
Churchill's beautiful words have been remembered, the British often quote them as a sign of their nation's bravery and indomitability. But the British do not want to know the real truth, it would disturb their peace.
The general opinion was expressed by one Dr. John Lewis: "any sabotage would not only be dangerous, but completely counterproductive." No one came out to fight in the fields and streets. The courts worked, but according to the laws of the Third Reich, the British police continued to serve on the streets - only they were paid in Reichsmarks. Movies and theaters worked. The British did not moan about oppression. Volunteer units guarded the airfields from where the planes took off to bomb London. Everyone was certain that London would fall.
"Resistance? What resistance?"- British writer Madeleine Bunting, who wrote a book about the occupation in the Nineties, was asked in amazement by the islanders. 570 people were sent to concentration camps in Europe - among them three Jews, three communists, the rest "for criminal offenses" (breaking curfew, stealing food from warehouses), 22 never returned.
No, there was resistance. A man refused to share a house with his wife, who sewed clothes for German soldiers. Another time a German at a citizen's post took a picture of his daughter without permission. He bravely complained to the commandant's office, and the soldier was transferred to another house.
By the way, the soldiers were paid generously. Whistle-blowing was widespread, informers received 20-50 Reichsmarks for their denunciation. For example, one islander denounced three friends for listening to British radio, and they were sent to prison."Two good friends" betrayed an old woman who hid an escaped prisoner.
After the liberation, the traitors were not convicted, because, you know, it happens: what's the big deal, people wanted to make a little money. Not a single incident of collaboration was investigated. There was one incident of real bravery. Mary Ozanne, a Salvation Army preacher, protested against the cruelty to Soviet POWs on the islands. She was warned it would not end well. She said she didn't care.The woman was imprisoned where she died in April 1943.
Other cases of resistance - For example, an incident where a drunken German soldier was coming down the stairs and the English policemen saw this and did not help him.He fell down and passed out - then they called an ambulance.That's how brave people were.
There were 4 concentration camps on the islands for prisoners of war (mostly from the USSR) to build fortifications. 700 people died and are buried on the island. Sometimes they were hidden and fed, but in general acts of kindness were sporadic. The islanders did not want to quarrel with the Germans. But they allegedly treated the prisoners with sympathy.
On May 9, 1945, the German troops on the islands capitulated - and on one island they surrendered on May 16, because no one came for them.
The islanders cheered the British, and officials promptly removed portraits of Hitler, swastika flags, and hung portraits of the king. The center now has a square of Liberation from the yoke of the accursed occupation.The same police that served under the Germans have continued to serve in honor of the king.
Churchill's beautiful words have been remembered, the British often quote them as a sign of their nation's bravery and indomitability. But the British do not want to know the real truth, it would disturb their peace.
