To be continued....The last weeks of the war were a time of apathy and simply waiting for the end. I had suggested to the bunker crews that they open their 'Iron Rations' which, however, they had already done, hunger being stronger than order. Turnips would be sliced and cooked directly on top of the stove while limpets were scalded in their shells before being eaten. In desperation for food one crew member even tried eating grass, with obvious results. Cats and dogs were also eaten and the Company Chef prepared a dish of 'meat' in a sauce with vegetables for Hauptmann Schellenburg. It looked divine and you wouldn't have guessed the 'meat' was actually cat! I had a few highlights during the last couple of months in announcing to the Le Brocqs that the Vega was on her way and had been seen by the crew at the lighthouse. The Le Brocqs always invited me to visit when the Red Cross parcels were opened, and "Bertie" as they called me was sometimes there. The mood among the soldiers in the bunkers and everywhere else became more and more apathetic and desperate. The La Corbiere 'idyll' had vanished. Even the little additional supplies had come to an end. The fields had been gleaned of rotting potatoes, carrots and other vegetables. Fishing came to a standstill, the weather being so cold, and the sea too rough, and the men too weak. We heard of soldiers having died in the military hospitals or sick bays because their bodies were to weak to fight their illnesses; it was another way of starving... And yet in March we heard of a commando raid on the liberated port of Granville in France. Some American soldiers were taken prisoner and some German POWs were 'freed' during the raid. Despite the dangers it seemed to me like playing 'Red Indians' at sea. This absurd and useless operation for Admiral Hüffmeier at least, must have been "A glorious and great victory".
Malcolm
