Fate of German Command - Channel Islands
Fate of German Command - Channel Islands
Hello, You're probably all going to go urgh but I happen to be one of those people, and there are quite a few of us if you run searches on the Internet who were very impressed by ITV's Island at War saga set on the island of St Gregory (which was supposed to represent the Channel Islands) and laments the fact that it ended with everything up in the air so to speak, instead of being carried through to liberation. Given that the drama was supposedly based on real life incidents, would anyone be so kind as to advise what in the end was the fate of the senior German command, so that the fate of the fictional Baron von Rheingarten can be determined. Also, of interest, what protection, if any, did the German Oath provide as far as the British were concerned? Trust me, there are many who would appreciate knowing!! Tks
Hello! Although Baron von von Rheingarten is a fictional character, he might be loosely based on Generalleutnant Rudolf Graf von Schmettow.
Graf von Schmettow served as commander of the British Channel Islands from 27 September 1940-20 October 1941. He later returned to the islands and served concurrently as commander of the 319th Infantry Division and commander of the British Channel Islands from 1 September 1943-28 February 1945. He was succeeded by Vizeadmiral Friedrich Hüffmeier as commander of the Channel Islands and by Generalmajor Rudolf Wulf as commander of the 319th Infantry Division.* In March 1945, Graf von Schmettow was flown back to Germany on a supply aircraft, the same one that had brought Generalmajor Wulf to Guernsey.
Known as “the little Saxon,” Graf von Schmettow was a nephew of Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt. By all accounts, he was fair and lenient to the islanders while serving as the commander of the British Channel Islands. One of the islanders described him as “a man of great charm and humanity.” One German soldier recalled, “The General of the occupation division [Graf von Schmettow] walked without an escort and always had chocolate and sweets in his pocket for the children.”
Commanded by Brigadier A. E. Snow OBE, Force 135 conducted Operation “Nest Egg,” the peaceful and unopposed liberation of the Channel Channels, after negotiating the surrender of the 25,500-man German garrison on 9 May 1945. Three days later, Hüffmeier surrendered personally to Brigadier Snow on Guernsey. Hüffmeier and Wulf were transported by ship to Plymouth to begin their three-year stints as prisoners of war. Both ended up at Island Farm Special Camp 11 in Bridgend, Wales.
* Hüffmeier succeeded Graf von Schmettow after a prolonged campaign to undermine his superior. A dedicated Nazi, Hüffmeier frequently complained of Graf von Schmettow’s “soft” attitude in radio messages to Germany.
Best regards,
Shawn
SOURCES:
• Bunting, Madeleine. The Model Occupation: The Channel Islands Under German Rule, 1940-1945. Harper Collins Publishers, London, United Kingdom, 1995.
• Forty, George. Channel Islands at War: A German Perspective. Ian Allen Publishing, United Kingdom, 1999.
• Ginns, Michael. “The Granville Raid,” After the Battle, No. 47, 1985, pp. 37-53.
• Keilig, Wolf. Die Generale des Heeres. Podzun-Pallas Verlag, Friedberg, Germany, 1983.
• Ramsey, Winston G., editor. “Germany Surrenders – The Channel Islands,” After the Battle, No. 48, 1985, pp. 38-39.
Graf von Schmettow served as commander of the British Channel Islands from 27 September 1940-20 October 1941. He later returned to the islands and served concurrently as commander of the 319th Infantry Division and commander of the British Channel Islands from 1 September 1943-28 February 1945. He was succeeded by Vizeadmiral Friedrich Hüffmeier as commander of the Channel Islands and by Generalmajor Rudolf Wulf as commander of the 319th Infantry Division.* In March 1945, Graf von Schmettow was flown back to Germany on a supply aircraft, the same one that had brought Generalmajor Wulf to Guernsey.
Known as “the little Saxon,” Graf von Schmettow was a nephew of Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt. By all accounts, he was fair and lenient to the islanders while serving as the commander of the British Channel Islands. One of the islanders described him as “a man of great charm and humanity.” One German soldier recalled, “The General of the occupation division [Graf von Schmettow] walked without an escort and always had chocolate and sweets in his pocket for the children.”
Commanded by Brigadier A. E. Snow OBE, Force 135 conducted Operation “Nest Egg,” the peaceful and unopposed liberation of the Channel Channels, after negotiating the surrender of the 25,500-man German garrison on 9 May 1945. Three days later, Hüffmeier surrendered personally to Brigadier Snow on Guernsey. Hüffmeier and Wulf were transported by ship to Plymouth to begin their three-year stints as prisoners of war. Both ended up at Island Farm Special Camp 11 in Bridgend, Wales.
* Hüffmeier succeeded Graf von Schmettow after a prolonged campaign to undermine his superior. A dedicated Nazi, Hüffmeier frequently complained of Graf von Schmettow’s “soft” attitude in radio messages to Germany.
Best regards,
Shawn
SOURCES:
• Bunting, Madeleine. The Model Occupation: The Channel Islands Under German Rule, 1940-1945. Harper Collins Publishers, London, United Kingdom, 1995.
• Forty, George. Channel Islands at War: A German Perspective. Ian Allen Publishing, United Kingdom, 1999.
• Ginns, Michael. “The Granville Raid,” After the Battle, No. 47, 1985, pp. 37-53.
• Keilig, Wolf. Die Generale des Heeres. Podzun-Pallas Verlag, Friedberg, Germany, 1983.
• Ramsey, Winston G., editor. “Germany Surrenders – The Channel Islands,” After the Battle, No. 48, 1985, pp. 38-39.
Message of Appreciation
Dear Shawn,
You're very kind to have gone to so much trouble and I'm very grateful to you - thank you! May I just ask one further question - what happened to Graf von Schmettow after his return to Germany? Helen
You're very kind to have gone to so much trouble and I'm very grateful to you - thank you! May I just ask one further question - what happened to Graf von Schmettow after his return to Germany? Helen
Glad to help! After his return to Germany, Generalleutnant Graf von Schmettow went into reserve status and apparently remained unemployed for the rest of the war. Unfortunately, I do not know his ultimate fate, but I would imagine he spent some time as a prisoner of war after Germany’s surrender. I would welcome any and or all biographical information on this officer.
Best regards,
Shawn
Best regards,
Shawn
Graf von Schmettow
Have ascertained from a Channel Islander that Graf von Schmettow survived the war and returned to Guernsey in 1963 as a 'visitor' and made various calls on locals that he knew from his time there. Have gone back to the gentleman in question asking if he would be prepared to provide further information.
Re: Fate of German Command - Channel Islands
A little known thing - sometime after the Occupation - 1964 - the German Commandant during part of that time returned to the Island. He stayed with me in Berthelot Street. It was meant to be a completely private visit - but word got out that he was in the Island ! We were inundated with phone calls from Guernsey people. One might have expected that they would have been very "anti" - but NO - almost all were to thank him for the way he administered "the Occupation". The person was GenLt. Graf von Schmettow - not all were of the Nazi persuasion !