WW2 "Bobbies" who Stole from the Germans (Occupied Guernsey, UK)
TLDRDuring World War II, the Channel Islands were occupied by the Nazis, and the people of Guernsey suffered from severe food shortages. A group of 18 local policemen, known as the 'Robin Hood Group,' risked their lives to steal from the Nazis and return food to the starving citizens. They also participated in the BBC's 'V for Victory' campaign, displaying the sign as an act of resistance. In 1942, the group was arrested, interrogated, and sentenced to hard labor in concentration camps. Despite their heroism, they were never officially pardoned and died with criminal records. Their story serves as a testament to the courage of individuals who defied Nazi rule and highlights the importance of remembering their sacrifices.
Takeaways
- ๐ก๏ธ The Robin Hood policemen of Guernsey were a group of 18 who stole from the Nazis to feed the needy during World War II.
- ๐ฐ The Channel Islands, including Guernsey, were occupied by the Nazis after the British demilitarized them, leading to their easy capture in June 1940.
- ๐ก The BBC used broadcasting as a weapon of war, with initiatives like the 'V for Victory' sign to undermine Nazi morale and unite Europeans.
- ๐ฎโโ๏ธ Five Guernsey policemen, including Charles Bailly and Frank Tuck, actively participated in the V for Victory campaign and later formed the Robin Hood group.
- ๐ By winter 1941, Guernsey faced severe food shortages, leading the Robin Hood policemen to risk their lives to steal food from German stores for the locals.
- ๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ The policemen used their authority and the cover of night to carry out their operations, hiding stolen goods in chimneys or burying them in gardens.
- ๐ On March 5, 1942, Bailly and Tuck were arrested, followed by the rest of the force, leading to their interrogation, beatings, and torture by the Nazis.
- ๐ค The men confessed under duress, including to stealing from the people of Guernsey, which likely saved them from a death penalty.
- โ๏ธ The 18 policemen were sentenced to hard labor and deported to various prisons and concentration camps across Europe, where they suffered greatly.
- ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด Upon returning home, the Guernsey policemen faced lasting psychological and physical trauma, and their promised pardons never materialized, affecting their livelihoods.
- ๐ Despite their efforts, all the policemen died with criminal records, and their heroic acts were not officially recognized until much later, with ongoing efforts to clear their names.
Q & A
What was the nickname given to the group of Guernsey policemen who stole from the Nazis?
-The group was nicknamed the 'Robin Hood Group'.
Why did the British demilitarize the Channel Islands during World War II?
-The British decided the islands were of no strategic importance during the war and left them open for Nazi occupation.
What was the significance of the 'V for Victory' sign used by the BBC?
-The 'V for Victory' sign was used as a symbol of resistance and solidarity against the Germans, encouraging people to display it in any creative way possible to unnerve the Nazis.
How did the Guernsey policemen aid the local population during the Nazi occupation?
-The policemen risked their lives to break into German stores and return food to the starving Guernsey citizens.
What happened to the Guernsey policemen after they were arrested by the Nazis?
-They were interrogated, beaten, and tortured by the secret field police. Eventually, 18 of them were sentenced to hard labor and deported to prisons and concentration camps across Europe.
Why were the trials of the Guernsey policemen considered unjust by historians?
-The trials were dismissed as a kangaroo court, conducted under the dictatorship of the Nazis, with the policemen being coerced into confessions under threat of further torture of themselves and their families.
What was the fate of the Guernsey policemen upon their return home after the war?
-They suffered long-lasting psychological and physical effects, and their promised criminal pardons never materialized, which prevented them from claiming pensions or returning to their jobs.
Why did the Guernsey policemen also admit to stealing from the local population?
-It was likely a lie to save their own lives, as admitting only to stealing from the Germans would have resulted in the death penalty.
What was the role of Archibald Tardif among the Guernsey policemen?
-Archibald Tardif was one of the five initial policemen who eagerly took part in the 'V for Victory' campaign and later wrote memoirs documenting their time and actions during the Nazi occupation.
How did the actions of the Guernsey policemen contribute to the broader resistance against the Nazis?
-Their acts of stealing from the Nazis to feed the needy and their participation in the 'V for Victory' campaign were forms of resistance that defied Nazi rule and boosted morale among the local population.
What is the legacy of the Guernsey policemen known as the 'Robin Hood Group'?
-Despite their criminal records and the lack of official recognition, their actions are remembered as a Robin Hood type of act, where they stole not for personal gain but to feed the hungry during the Nazi occupation.
Outlines
๐ก๏ธ Heroes of Guernsey: The Robin Hood Policemen's Resistance
This paragraph tells the story of the 'Robin Hood' policemen of Guernsey during World War II, who risked their lives to steal from the Nazis to feed the local population. It describes the occupation of the Channel Islands by the Nazis and the British decision to demilitarize them. The narrative also highlights the BBC's use of the 'V for Victory' campaign to boost morale and the policemen's participation in this act of defiance. The group, which included Charles Bailly and Frank Tuck, faced extreme danger and were eventually arrested, interrogated, and tortured by the Nazis. Despite their heroic actions, they were forced to falsely confess to crimes and were sentenced to hard labor in prisons and concentration camps across Europe.
๐ The Aftermath and Unjust Treatment of Guernsey's Policemen
The second paragraph delves into the aftermath of the war for the Guernsey policemen, who suffered severe physical and psychological trauma. It discusses the sham trials they were subjected to and the false confessions they were coerced into making under threat of further torture and harm to their families. The men were sentenced to hard labor and were sent to various prisons and concentration camps, where they endured harsh treatment. One of them, Herbert Smith, died as a result. After the war, the officers did not receive the promised pardons, which affected their ability to claim pensions or return to their police jobs. Despite their efforts, they were left with criminal records, which were unsuccessfully appealed in 1955. The narrative concludes with the efforts of their descendants to clear their names and the public's growing recognition of their heroism, encapsulated in the 'Robin Hood' moniker given by Keith Friend, the son of Charles Bailly.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กRobin Hood Policeman
๐กNazis
๐กChannel Islands
๐กV for Victory Sign
๐กGuernsey
๐กOccupation
๐กResistance
๐กConcentration Camps
๐กBBC
๐กNazi Rule
๐กMemoirs
Highlights
The Robin Hood policemen of Guernsey stole from the Nazis to feed the needy during World War II.
18 Guernsey policemen were part of the Robin Hood group, defying Nazi rule.
The British demilitarized the Channel Islands, leaving them open to Nazi occupation in June 1940.
Douglas Ritchie proposed the use of the 'V for Victory' sign as a form of silent protest against the Germans.
Five Guernsey policemen participated in the V for Victory campaign, displaying the sign around the island.
By winter 1941, the people of Guernsey were starving, leading to increased theft, including by the police force.
Guernsey police officers risked their lives to break into German stores and return food to the citizens.
The covert operation involved practically the whole police force by February 1942.
The police stole food items like sweet corn, potato pies, sausages, meat, and tins, hiding them in chimneys or gardens.
On March 5th, 1942, two policemen were arrested, followed by the rest of the force, leading to their interrogation and torture.
The 18 policemen were subjected to a sham trial and sentenced to hard labor in various prisons and concentration camps across Europe.
One of the policemen, Herbert Smith, died from his treatment overseas.
The policemen suffered long-lasting psychological and physical effects after their liberation in 1945.
The Guernsey authorities failed to provide the promised criminal pardons, affecting the policemen's ability to claim pensions or return to their jobs.
In 1955, eight of the Guernsey police officers appealed their convictions unsuccessfully.
The policemen died with criminal records, and their families live with the unfair label instead of being remembered as heroes.
Keith Friend, son of one of the policemen, gave them the Robin Hood moniker, emphasizing their actions were not for personal gain but to feed the hungry.
Transcripts
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