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THE COVENANTER
When I got back to the Company soaked to serving ‘civilian’soldiers. After the defeat of
the skin from the thunderstorm, but sensing Germany they could see no point in
that something unusual was in the air, I found prolonging their time in the Forces. The
all the Officers and N.C.O.’s having a drink prospect of further service in the Far East
together. There was no need to enquire what was hardly an entrancing prospect, but
had happened. I cursed - fancy going out remained a distinct possibility in view of
looking for the ‘Moffe’
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and ‘the big angry man’ the Division’s previous training in
when he had agreed to stop fighting! However it mountain, air-portable and combined
was worth it, even if only to see that firework operations warfare. Rumours abounded;
display!... these varied from a posting to Canada or
The Battalion’s tour of duty finished the United States for more mountain and
soon after as the Camp was cleared of the air portable training in preparation for the
worst cases and the dead buried. We invasion of Japan, to the more credible and
returned to the Division to reflect on an acceptable assignment to fly into Norway in
experience that I am certain affected the the Division’s former air portable role to
outlook of all ranks for many years to come, deal with the disposal of German forces still
and which on one hand we would rather in that country. It came as a
have missed in the hope that no such place disappointment when 6th Airborne
had ever existed. On the other, it silenced Division was handed the Norway mission.
the doubters about the justification for the However the 6th Battalion’s days with
conflict - the necessity had been the dismantling of the Nazi Regime were
demonstrated to us in manner that brooked not over - a further novel and memorable
no denial. experience awaited it at Magdeburg,
General Horrocks was in no doubt. At the opposite the Red Army that faced the
ceremony on 5th May, where he received Western Allies across the River Elbe.
the surrender of the enemy forces in In early June, the 52nd Division was
Northern Germany, he concluded his allotted a new task. For the Battalion, it
address to the defeated German Generals... proved to be the antithesis of its duties at
‘These Orders must be obeyed scrupulously. I Sandbostel. There, the primary objective
warn you that we will show no mercy if they are had been to contain the revengeful excesses
not. Having seen one of your horror camps, my of prisoners both military and political,
whole attitude towards Germany has against the German population, by holding
changed...The world will never forgive Germany them in a secure camp. Now, the Battalion
for those camps.’
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was ordered to take part in the repatriation
Perhaps the last word should rest with of foreign labour that had been shipped
the Divisional Historian? I have no doubt either voluntarily or compulsorily to
whatsoever that he spoke for every member Germany as slave labour.
Battalion when he concluded his brief Again my account of this episode must
account of Sanbostel with the following be largely based on personal recollection.
words ‘...No one who did not see and smell and Most will recall that at the cessation of
feel the horror of this embodied nightmare could hostilities, the Allied Armies of the West
ever believe it. And no one who did see it and had met with the Allied armies of the East
smell it and feel it could ever forget it. It was roughly at a point that made the river Elbe
perhaps appropriate that it should be here, with a convenient dividing line. The city of
the evils of the system against which we had Magdeburg lay astride that river. That city
been fighting so unforgettably displayed before was to be the location of the 6th,s next
our eyes, that the crusade should end...’ posting. It had been captured by the U.S.
The 6th occupied a former Wermacht Army, from which the Division was to take
Barracks at Delmenhorst south of Bremen over. While at a higher level, both sides
for a brief return to a first post-hostilities seemed to regard each other with growing
taste of normal Regimental duty. suspicion, there still existed an atmosphere
Regimental Messes were established for the of goodwill and camaraderie between the
first time in Germany, with formal dinners men on the ground from both the East and
(less Mess Kit) and full Battalion parades West.
were held on the spacious barrack square. Much of the imported slave labour had
For some, the return to normal Regimental been concentrated near factory sites, and
formality was not particularly well received accommodated in primitive camps. Others
- the expression ‘demob happy’ became had been used as agricultural workers, who
commonplace among some of the long were equally bitter about their lot. Several
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