Guernsey Press

Not all German soldiers were Nazis

AFTER the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944, the Germans in Guernsey could no longer go to France to get food. Consequently we were all short of food.

Published

An incident occurred that comes to mind. A grower with glasshouses heard the sound of breaking glass; as far as I can remember it happened during the dark. The grower went to investigate, was shot and died as a result; it was a big thing in Guernsey at the time, an investigation took place but no one was ever charged.

We lived in a bungalow in a lane off the Rue Charruee and had a 150ft greenhouse. I reached six years old in May 1944 and was more curious than brave. On the property next door lived a German soldier; there was no house, he slept in the greenhouse and his food was brought to him from the big German camp situated at what is now the KGV.

Several years after the war ended, when I was old enough to understand, my father told me that after the shooting of the glasshouse owner, the German soldier next door told my dad, ‘If you hear any noises on your property or glass breaking, do not investigate, stay in the house, I will check it out.’ We never ever had anything taken. When we first moved into the bungalow I saw that German soldier on the neighbouring property; it wasn’t long before I climbed over the earthbank to find out about him. He just ignored me. But I did get a good telling off from Mum. She said, ‘You don’t know anything about that man, or what he could do to you.’

I never felt uncomfortable near him; I am sure children know instinctively who they can trust and who they cannot.This German soldier went about his work sowing vegetables, then when they were ready, harvesting them. He never appeared to show any emotion, yet after Germany had surrendered and American planes flew over I saw him outside the greenhouse waving his coat above his head; it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realised the significance of his actions.

This soldier, who seemed to know what he was doing, must have had some experience of growing, had left Germany, was sent to Guernsey, had never had to shoot at anyone or be shot at himself and was going home. His final act was to put all of his tools on our side of the earthbank. I doubt that he was a Nazi.

BRIAN DUQUEMIN

ADDRESS WITHHELD.