Experiences of Capt (now Major) J.A. CLANCY
Experiences of Capt (now Major) J.A. CLANCY, POW from 24 MAR 45 until he escaped 15 APR 45, and reached Allied lines 18 APR 45.
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I dropped by parachute where I judged to be approx 3 to 4 miles north east of the Bn dropping zone (1547 NE 4205 DINGDEN 1/25,000).
During the descent there was rifle fire directed at me, which continued until I hit the ground. I could not identify my position.
I was able to undo the box mechanism of my harness, pull the zipper of my jump smock, and get my pistol out of the holster. I fired eleven rounds and managed to wound two Germans. Three Germans sneaked up from the rear and proceeded to tear my equipment from me. I was then marched to their HQ and met by a German Parachute Lieut, taken into the cellar of the building and thoroughly searched.
I was left with only my personal clothing I wore, my identity card, 100 marks invasion currency, 20 cigarettes, 1 box matches, and 4 razor blades. I was allowed to keep my camouflage smock, web belt and beret. Fifteen minutes after I was captured, another PW, an American Airforce Captain was brought into the HQ.
Three times during the day I managed to get outside to urinate and attempted to orient myself on the ground and be prepared to escape if the opportunity came. Bach time I was allowed out I was accompanied by two or three guards. Throughout the day I tried to discover my position on a German map board, but each time I moved to get a view of the map it was taken from my view. I was interrogated briefly about allied plans and dispositions of troops. When I refused to discuss this, they resorted to political discussions, which was also fruitless. At approx 2100 hrs that evening I, and an American Airforce Capt, and 15 wounded (allied and Enemy) were transported to a hospital after three hours journey. Here the wounded were discharged.
The American officer and myself were taken to a small group of isolated farm buildings after 1 hrs journey from the hospital. We were made to stand outside for 1 hour and at approx 0200 hrs we were taken inside and searched singly by two interrogators.
I was then questioned for 1 hour by both interrogators. Like all other interrogators they began by apologizing for the unconfortable surroundings. I was then shown 1 pr of 1 Cdn Para Bn badges. The interrogator held them beside those on my tunic which I wore and I was asked if I recognized them. I said nothing. I was then questioned about Coy, Bn, Bde, and Div objectives of the day's operation. I was asked if I knew Brig Hill or General Gale. I was then asked what my command was. Further questioning demanded of me the state of preparation of other Airborne Divs, and if further Airborne operations were planned for the continent. They then demanded to know the strength of a section in a platoon.
Particular interest and curiosity was shown by the interrogator in the 1 Can Para Bn. They demanded to know if we were extra to the establishment of the 6th Airborne Division or part of the establishment. They also stated that the two Para Bdes of the 6 Airborne Div were 3 Bde and 5 Bde.
For at least ten minutes they asked me again and again if 1 Can Para Bn was surplus to the establishment to the Div or in the 3 Bde or 5 Bde. Through all questions I answered either "I don't know" or "I Can't say" and equally as often they reminded me if necessary the proper measures would be taken to obtain the desired information. I reminded then that I was only compelled to give my name and rank. The interrogator answered "That was good enough in 1940, Capt Clancy, but now we are fighting for our very existence and we shall do what over is necessary to obtain the desired information. After refusing to state what Bde I was in or whether I was in the 6 Airborne Div. They adjourned for the evening at approx 0300 hrs, 25 MAR 45.
Whether I refused to reply, or answered "I don't know or can't say, they invariably wrote something in their notes. During the interrogation many of the questions were preceded by the statement "we already know this information but must only ask it as a matter of form. When it was pointed out to them that it was obviously unnecessary for me to answer the questions if they have the answers they invariable became a bit nettled. We were allowed to sleep in the stables of the farm, until 0730 hrs the next morning when I was taken back to the HQ for an hours interrogation at 1000 hrs. The process was repeated again with more numerous threats. I was sent outside the house under guard. Two SS men were called in and the Major of the area. Nothing further developed and we were allowed to return to the stables to rest until approx 0300 hrs 26 MAR 45 Te were then given our first food since capture, consisting of 1/5 of a loaf of bread and some meat. We marched until 1100 hrs when we reached a group of farm buildings near GEMEN. Here we were again searched and briefly interrogated. We were given 1 bowl of soup and a slice of bread. At dusk our column began a march which lasted until 0800 hrs 27 MAR 45. Here we remained in a group of buildings, where we were again searched. On the night of the 28th we marched to a railway station approx 5 kilos away where we entrained. We were loaded 40 to 50 men to a cattle car. The train trip lasted for three days. The first two days of the journey we were locked in the car and not allowed to urinate defecate or have water. Some of the towns we passed through are LINGERECH, HASBERGEN, HOURDE, GEMEN, MUNSTER, LEMKE, NIENBURG, YEDDINGEN, FLIELMGEN, SOLTAV and FOLINGBOSTEL. Throughout the trip the wounded were not treated any differently from the fit. We reached FOLLINGBOSTEL at approx noon 31 MAR 45, and were marched several kilos to Stalag 11B. Here we were searched and interrogated and allotted to a lager, in the camp. We remained at Stalag 11B until 7 APR 45. I was registered there as prisoner of war 01863.
Throughout the week we were allowed to attend religious services, and attend medical parades when necessary. Our greatest difficulty was food. Our ration being 1 bowl of ersatz coffee at 0730 hrs, 1 bowl of soup at 1100 hrs and 1 bowl of ersatz coffee at 1300 hrs, 1/7 of a loaf of bread per man, 1 table spoon of sugar and 1 small piece of German margarine and 3 to 5 small boiled potatoes, for a 24 hrs period. We were among the more fortunate ones to secure 1/5 and 1/4 of a Red Cross parcel during the week at Stalag 11B. Sanitary conditions in our lager were completely neglected by the camp authorities. Men were daily dying from malnutrition, and hospital facilities were not large enough to accommodate the ill PWs of all allied nations were detained in Stalag 11B. It was the intention of the German authorities to transfer officer PWs to a camp hear BRUSSWICK.
Accordingly a party of thirty British and American officers entrained at FOLLINGBOSTEL at approx 0700 hrs, 7 APR 45.
We passed through SOLTAV where we changed trains. Approx 2 hrs ride from SOLTAV the train was halted and we were ordered to get cover because of an air raid. American bombers bombed railway lines a couple of miles ahead of us. The train was forced to return to SOLTAV, and we were kept in a group outside the station.
At approx 1830 hrs 4 typhoons strafed the station destroying the signal box, two AA railway cars, petrol, and amn dump and damaged the station in which we were in. Six of the officers in our group were wounded, and 1 of our guards was killed. We were taken to a nearby medical station, where a German Colonel's attitude towards us indicated much displeasure at our sight. The six wounded were finally treated. Capt Harry Hewitt, SHAEF, RA, organized our column and we were forced to march back to Stalag 11B with our wounded, because of the displeasure of the local Gestapo officer. The march took from 2130 hrs, 7 Apr 45 to 0430 hrs 8 Apr 45. On our return to Stalag 11B, the wounded were taken to hospital. We were allowed 1 hrs sleep, awakened for roll call, and prepared to leave camp. At 1100 hrs the same morning we marched from camp and marched each day with the exception of 1 day while we rested.
I cannot remember the particular towns or villages through which we marched. On 13 Apr we passed through a small town near SOLTAV which I recognised from our train ride of the 7 Apr. Throughout the week we lived mostly off the land, our own group most respectfully and capably cared for by a party of 100 British Empire PW under command of RSM John ROUSSOW South African Army.
His courage and ability was a source of inspiration to us all. Our own particular column numbered approx 1500. I had heard it stated that our complete column numbered 10000. We reached BARNSTEDT during the afternoon of the 14 Apr 45, where we were to remain until 1300 hrs 15 Apr 45, where we would march to LUNABERGE and cross the ELBE enroute to LUBECK. During the morning of the 15 Apr we had heard that UELZEN had been captured by an American Army. A party of three consisting of Lt. Jack SIMPSON MM, 7 Para Bn., Mr Jeffrey BOCCA, British War correspondent, Daily Express, and myself decided to escape. RSM Roussow arranged that our absence would not be detected by substituting 3 men from another column.
Food taken along consisted of the following: 12 boiled potatoes 1 tin canned meat, 15 pan cakes made of bread and water; escape equipment consisting of 1 watch to be used to maintain direction by day, and a knowledge of the stars to guide us by night. Simpson and I both had some cigarettes and matches. We left the column at 1255 hrs 15 Apr 45 north of the villaged to a small swampy wood, laid up for a few minutes while some German soldiers in nearby house went inside, hid our berets, and walked NW approx 750 yds across some open ground. We decided against appearing crawling across this area because it would only excite the suspicion of anyone seeing us. Since we possessed no knowledge of the country, and no compass or maps, and we could not regard any civilians as friendly, we decided that we must appear as nonchalant as possible and if observed at a distance to be considered as refugees by day.
At night if we were accosted we were to pass off as French slave labourers. We laid up in a wood NW of BARNSTEDT for approx 15 min. where we were discovered by a group of children playing about the area. We then moved 1000 yds farther into the wood and proceeded west across ½ mile of open country until we entered what I know to be FORST EBSTORF. We travelled through this wood until night fall. Only once were we nearly detected at approx 1830 hrs while crossing a road in FORST EBSTORF we saw two German soldiers on bicycles coming towards us 200 yds away. We immediately doubled back several yds into the wood and lay behind cover until they passed. We then proceeded on our way until dusk. We slept until dawn 16 Apr. During our period of escape whenever we slept one always remained awake for two reasons, to prevent the other two snoring; and secondly, if detected, the one awake would be sufficiently alert to make a plan to prevent capture.
At dawn the next morning we proceeded to march until 0800 hrs across open country and through woods. At one point in order to get to the closest large wood as possible, we had to march about 1500 yds across woods and field near a village under the view of ten to twelve people working in nearby fields. We were not halted or shouted at as we expected. Once in the wood we slept for several hours and were just about to leave cover of the wood when two SP guns opened fire. We moved back to place of cover in the wood and decided to lay up and discover enemy positions and strength. We intended to leave that evening but the moon was too bright and we decided against it. From the firing in the wood that day we judged there to be 6 and 8 SP guns and two AA guns and several miles back two artillery pieces. In the afternoon two German soldiers passed by 200 yds from our position. In the early evening two civilians passed by our position, about the same distance.
We finished our food and water the afternoon of the 16. On the evening of the 17 we waited until 2300 hrs when the moon became partly obscured, and we moved north of the wood about 500 yds into open country. We marched due west approx 1 mile finding a stream on the way. We then marched until 0500 hrs the morning of the 18 avoiding all wooded areas and buildings and personnel. Three times during the night we were discovered by dogs and whenever this happened we made a circuit about the area and marched southwest, southeast or south, according to the openess of the country. On one occasion at approx 0300 hrs we heard what sounded like a tank revving up. They were signallying someone by means of a white spot light. At approx 0500 hrs we sought cover in a near by wood. We crawled 500 yds into a wood to get a spot suitable for resting up. The moon by this time had become obscured and we could not keep direction. We therefore decided to rest up until sunup, regain our direction and continue on our way.
We thought on reaching our resting place in the wood two men coughed in their sleep close by to our right and to our left. Since we could not make our way out of the wood because of the darkness and of the noise we might make in moving out, thereby awakening the two sleeping men, we decided to wait until first light and crawled out of the wood to another wood about 1500 yds away. Here we had to wait up until the sun rose some time after dawn. We then marched south and entered 11th Armd Div lines at 0940 hrs, 18 Apr 45. We were identified by Maj John CAMERON, 13 Fd Sqn RE, BLA.
Previously there had been opportunities to escape, but a combination of one or more of the following reasons made the possibility of a successful return to allied lines impossible: (1) no map (2) no compass (3) no information as to the progress and success of allied arms and lines (4) Iack of food and poor physical state we found ourselves (5) an unfriendly country and inhabitants where even a child or a dog could betray us. We were able to overcome the lack of (1) and (2). We did not have truthful information. Uelzen only fell to allied arms four days after we made our escape. We were able to get what food we had on escape through the good offices of RSM Roussow and his column. I cannot give a detailed plan of our escape route because of lack of map and compass and we dared not to discover names of villages during our escape because of possibility of detection and capture.
During our period of capture we found that the German, be he soldier or civilian, incapable of fulfilling a given promise, whether to aid the wounded or give only a drink of water. The civilians regarded us with a mixture of fear, hatred and insolence. On one occasion at Nienburg, a woman of approx fifty years of age, stood on the corner as we marched by and spat at us in the column and called us "SHWINEHUNDE". Many rear line soldiers and civilians tacitly admitted their lost cause, but afraid of terrorism they continued their part. Worse than a lack of physical comforts and food and water we felt, was our loss of freedom.
The above is an honest and true account of my life from 1010 hrs, 24 MAR 45 to 0940 hrs, 18 APR 45 as I can recall from memory.
(J.A. CLANCY) MAJOR
1 CDN PARA BN.
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I dropped by parachute where I judged to be approx 3 to 4 miles north east of the Bn dropping zone (1547 NE 4205 DINGDEN 1/25,000).
During the descent there was rifle fire directed at me, which continued until I hit the ground. I could not identify my position.
I was able to undo the box mechanism of my harness, pull the zipper of my jump smock, and get my pistol out of the holster. I fired eleven rounds and managed to wound two Germans. Three Germans sneaked up from the rear and proceeded to tear my equipment from me. I was then marched to their HQ and met by a German Parachute Lieut, taken into the cellar of the building and thoroughly searched.
I was left with only my personal clothing I wore, my identity card, 100 marks invasion currency, 20 cigarettes, 1 box matches, and 4 razor blades. I was allowed to keep my camouflage smock, web belt and beret. Fifteen minutes after I was captured, another PW, an American Airforce Captain was brought into the HQ.
Three times during the day I managed to get outside to urinate and attempted to orient myself on the ground and be prepared to escape if the opportunity came. Bach time I was allowed out I was accompanied by two or three guards. Throughout the day I tried to discover my position on a German map board, but each time I moved to get a view of the map it was taken from my view. I was interrogated briefly about allied plans and dispositions of troops. When I refused to discuss this, they resorted to political discussions, which was also fruitless. At approx 2100 hrs that evening I, and an American Airforce Capt, and 15 wounded (allied and Enemy) were transported to a hospital after three hours journey. Here the wounded were discharged.
The American officer and myself were taken to a small group of isolated farm buildings after 1 hrs journey from the hospital. We were made to stand outside for 1 hour and at approx 0200 hrs we were taken inside and searched singly by two interrogators.
I was then questioned for 1 hour by both interrogators. Like all other interrogators they began by apologizing for the unconfortable surroundings. I was then shown 1 pr of 1 Cdn Para Bn badges. The interrogator held them beside those on my tunic which I wore and I was asked if I recognized them. I said nothing. I was then questioned about Coy, Bn, Bde, and Div objectives of the day's operation. I was asked if I knew Brig Hill or General Gale. I was then asked what my command was. Further questioning demanded of me the state of preparation of other Airborne Divs, and if further Airborne operations were planned for the continent. They then demanded to know the strength of a section in a platoon.
Particular interest and curiosity was shown by the interrogator in the 1 Can Para Bn. They demanded to know if we were extra to the establishment of the 6th Airborne Division or part of the establishment. They also stated that the two Para Bdes of the 6 Airborne Div were 3 Bde and 5 Bde.
For at least ten minutes they asked me again and again if 1 Can Para Bn was surplus to the establishment to the Div or in the 3 Bde or 5 Bde. Through all questions I answered either "I don't know" or "I Can't say" and equally as often they reminded me if necessary the proper measures would be taken to obtain the desired information. I reminded then that I was only compelled to give my name and rank. The interrogator answered "That was good enough in 1940, Capt Clancy, but now we are fighting for our very existence and we shall do what over is necessary to obtain the desired information. After refusing to state what Bde I was in or whether I was in the 6 Airborne Div. They adjourned for the evening at approx 0300 hrs, 25 MAR 45.
Whether I refused to reply, or answered "I don't know or can't say, they invariably wrote something in their notes. During the interrogation many of the questions were preceded by the statement "we already know this information but must only ask it as a matter of form. When it was pointed out to them that it was obviously unnecessary for me to answer the questions if they have the answers they invariable became a bit nettled. We were allowed to sleep in the stables of the farm, until 0730 hrs the next morning when I was taken back to the HQ for an hours interrogation at 1000 hrs. The process was repeated again with more numerous threats. I was sent outside the house under guard. Two SS men were called in and the Major of the area. Nothing further developed and we were allowed to return to the stables to rest until approx 0300 hrs 26 MAR 45 Te were then given our first food since capture, consisting of 1/5 of a loaf of bread and some meat. We marched until 1100 hrs when we reached a group of farm buildings near GEMEN. Here we were again searched and briefly interrogated. We were given 1 bowl of soup and a slice of bread. At dusk our column began a march which lasted until 0800 hrs 27 MAR 45. Here we remained in a group of buildings, where we were again searched. On the night of the 28th we marched to a railway station approx 5 kilos away where we entrained. We were loaded 40 to 50 men to a cattle car. The train trip lasted for three days. The first two days of the journey we were locked in the car and not allowed to urinate defecate or have water. Some of the towns we passed through are LINGERECH, HASBERGEN, HOURDE, GEMEN, MUNSTER, LEMKE, NIENBURG, YEDDINGEN, FLIELMGEN, SOLTAV and FOLINGBOSTEL. Throughout the trip the wounded were not treated any differently from the fit. We reached FOLLINGBOSTEL at approx noon 31 MAR 45, and were marched several kilos to Stalag 11B. Here we were searched and interrogated and allotted to a lager, in the camp. We remained at Stalag 11B until 7 APR 45. I was registered there as prisoner of war 01863.
Throughout the week we were allowed to attend religious services, and attend medical parades when necessary. Our greatest difficulty was food. Our ration being 1 bowl of ersatz coffee at 0730 hrs, 1 bowl of soup at 1100 hrs and 1 bowl of ersatz coffee at 1300 hrs, 1/7 of a loaf of bread per man, 1 table spoon of sugar and 1 small piece of German margarine and 3 to 5 small boiled potatoes, for a 24 hrs period. We were among the more fortunate ones to secure 1/5 and 1/4 of a Red Cross parcel during the week at Stalag 11B. Sanitary conditions in our lager were completely neglected by the camp authorities. Men were daily dying from malnutrition, and hospital facilities were not large enough to accommodate the ill PWs of all allied nations were detained in Stalag 11B. It was the intention of the German authorities to transfer officer PWs to a camp hear BRUSSWICK.
Accordingly a party of thirty British and American officers entrained at FOLLINGBOSTEL at approx 0700 hrs, 7 APR 45.
We passed through SOLTAV where we changed trains. Approx 2 hrs ride from SOLTAV the train was halted and we were ordered to get cover because of an air raid. American bombers bombed railway lines a couple of miles ahead of us. The train was forced to return to SOLTAV, and we were kept in a group outside the station.
At approx 1830 hrs 4 typhoons strafed the station destroying the signal box, two AA railway cars, petrol, and amn dump and damaged the station in which we were in. Six of the officers in our group were wounded, and 1 of our guards was killed. We were taken to a nearby medical station, where a German Colonel's attitude towards us indicated much displeasure at our sight. The six wounded were finally treated. Capt Harry Hewitt, SHAEF, RA, organized our column and we were forced to march back to Stalag 11B with our wounded, because of the displeasure of the local Gestapo officer. The march took from 2130 hrs, 7 Apr 45 to 0430 hrs 8 Apr 45. On our return to Stalag 11B, the wounded were taken to hospital. We were allowed 1 hrs sleep, awakened for roll call, and prepared to leave camp. At 1100 hrs the same morning we marched from camp and marched each day with the exception of 1 day while we rested.
I cannot remember the particular towns or villages through which we marched. On 13 Apr we passed through a small town near SOLTAV which I recognised from our train ride of the 7 Apr. Throughout the week we lived mostly off the land, our own group most respectfully and capably cared for by a party of 100 British Empire PW under command of RSM John ROUSSOW South African Army.
His courage and ability was a source of inspiration to us all. Our own particular column numbered approx 1500. I had heard it stated that our complete column numbered 10000. We reached BARNSTEDT during the afternoon of the 14 Apr 45, where we were to remain until 1300 hrs 15 Apr 45, where we would march to LUNABERGE and cross the ELBE enroute to LUBECK. During the morning of the 15 Apr we had heard that UELZEN had been captured by an American Army. A party of three consisting of Lt. Jack SIMPSON MM, 7 Para Bn., Mr Jeffrey BOCCA, British War correspondent, Daily Express, and myself decided to escape. RSM Roussow arranged that our absence would not be detected by substituting 3 men from another column.
Food taken along consisted of the following: 12 boiled potatoes 1 tin canned meat, 15 pan cakes made of bread and water; escape equipment consisting of 1 watch to be used to maintain direction by day, and a knowledge of the stars to guide us by night. Simpson and I both had some cigarettes and matches. We left the column at 1255 hrs 15 Apr 45 north of the villaged to a small swampy wood, laid up for a few minutes while some German soldiers in nearby house went inside, hid our berets, and walked NW approx 750 yds across some open ground. We decided against appearing crawling across this area because it would only excite the suspicion of anyone seeing us. Since we possessed no knowledge of the country, and no compass or maps, and we could not regard any civilians as friendly, we decided that we must appear as nonchalant as possible and if observed at a distance to be considered as refugees by day.
At night if we were accosted we were to pass off as French slave labourers. We laid up in a wood NW of BARNSTEDT for approx 15 min. where we were discovered by a group of children playing about the area. We then moved 1000 yds farther into the wood and proceeded west across ½ mile of open country until we entered what I know to be FORST EBSTORF. We travelled through this wood until night fall. Only once were we nearly detected at approx 1830 hrs while crossing a road in FORST EBSTORF we saw two German soldiers on bicycles coming towards us 200 yds away. We immediately doubled back several yds into the wood and lay behind cover until they passed. We then proceeded on our way until dusk. We slept until dawn 16 Apr. During our period of escape whenever we slept one always remained awake for two reasons, to prevent the other two snoring; and secondly, if detected, the one awake would be sufficiently alert to make a plan to prevent capture.
At dawn the next morning we proceeded to march until 0800 hrs across open country and through woods. At one point in order to get to the closest large wood as possible, we had to march about 1500 yds across woods and field near a village under the view of ten to twelve people working in nearby fields. We were not halted or shouted at as we expected. Once in the wood we slept for several hours and were just about to leave cover of the wood when two SP guns opened fire. We moved back to place of cover in the wood and decided to lay up and discover enemy positions and strength. We intended to leave that evening but the moon was too bright and we decided against it. From the firing in the wood that day we judged there to be 6 and 8 SP guns and two AA guns and several miles back two artillery pieces. In the afternoon two German soldiers passed by 200 yds from our position. In the early evening two civilians passed by our position, about the same distance.
We finished our food and water the afternoon of the 16. On the evening of the 17 we waited until 2300 hrs when the moon became partly obscured, and we moved north of the wood about 500 yds into open country. We marched due west approx 1 mile finding a stream on the way. We then marched until 0500 hrs the morning of the 18 avoiding all wooded areas and buildings and personnel. Three times during the night we were discovered by dogs and whenever this happened we made a circuit about the area and marched southwest, southeast or south, according to the openess of the country. On one occasion at approx 0300 hrs we heard what sounded like a tank revving up. They were signallying someone by means of a white spot light. At approx 0500 hrs we sought cover in a near by wood. We crawled 500 yds into a wood to get a spot suitable for resting up. The moon by this time had become obscured and we could not keep direction. We therefore decided to rest up until sunup, regain our direction and continue on our way.
We thought on reaching our resting place in the wood two men coughed in their sleep close by to our right and to our left. Since we could not make our way out of the wood because of the darkness and of the noise we might make in moving out, thereby awakening the two sleeping men, we decided to wait until first light and crawled out of the wood to another wood about 1500 yds away. Here we had to wait up until the sun rose some time after dawn. We then marched south and entered 11th Armd Div lines at 0940 hrs, 18 Apr 45. We were identified by Maj John CAMERON, 13 Fd Sqn RE, BLA.
Previously there had been opportunities to escape, but a combination of one or more of the following reasons made the possibility of a successful return to allied lines impossible: (1) no map (2) no compass (3) no information as to the progress and success of allied arms and lines (4) Iack of food and poor physical state we found ourselves (5) an unfriendly country and inhabitants where even a child or a dog could betray us. We were able to overcome the lack of (1) and (2). We did not have truthful information. Uelzen only fell to allied arms four days after we made our escape. We were able to get what food we had on escape through the good offices of RSM Roussow and his column. I cannot give a detailed plan of our escape route because of lack of map and compass and we dared not to discover names of villages during our escape because of possibility of detection and capture.
During our period of capture we found that the German, be he soldier or civilian, incapable of fulfilling a given promise, whether to aid the wounded or give only a drink of water. The civilians regarded us with a mixture of fear, hatred and insolence. On one occasion at Nienburg, a woman of approx fifty years of age, stood on the corner as we marched by and spat at us in the column and called us "SHWINEHUNDE". Many rear line soldiers and civilians tacitly admitted their lost cause, but afraid of terrorism they continued their part. Worse than a lack of physical comforts and food and water we felt, was our loss of freedom.
The above is an honest and true account of my life from 1010 hrs, 24 MAR 45 to 0940 hrs, 18 APR 45 as I can recall from memory.
(J.A. CLANCY) MAJOR
1 CDN PARA BN.
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