26 June 1940
What a lot has happened today!
The Armistice was signed, for a start. The conditions are very tough, they include demobilizing the army but we haven’t been told much yet. French troops are going to England en masse to carry on the fight and the RAF is bombing continuously.
Yesterday I talked with two German soldiers. They spoke excellent French and English, which they learnt at some university or other. I was up a tree and they were down below. I saw one of them again today, in the street, and he said hello to me. I was unsure what to do, whether to speak to him in front of people or not. He was with a whole group of soldiers. I nodded my head slightly and walked on. Suddenly I heard a click, and then another. I turned round—another click. It was a real ambush. Two of them were taking pictures of me. I was furious. As they went past another said to me, in French, of course:
‘You are very pretty, mademoiselle.’
Grr…Grrr…The Bosches, they have no right to say that to me!
Later I was sitting on the kitchen windowsill with Marie-France, Hedwige [the maid] and Nicole and we were laughing. Suddenly someone came up silently and put an arm round me. I thought it was Papa! Marie-France, Hedwige and Nicole started laughing like idiots. I turned round and saw it was a Bosche! I ran away as fast as I could, while those idiots just carried on laughing.
When I calmed down, I had a look at him and decided I had reacted like a little girl. He didn’t do anything terrible. Frankly, I wish he were English because he’s really quite good looking. And he’s got brown hair and I vowed when I was nine that I’d never marry anyone blond.
So now that’s two men who have taken me in their arms—this one and Sinclair, the Scot. But Sinclair wanted to show me the inside of his lorry.
1 July 1940
There is apparently a big battle going on between the English and the Bosches in the north of France. Good.
We went with Hedwige—who is from Alsace and speaks German—to ask the Bosches to lend us a ball and they came and played with us. We had fun but it was even more fun seeing the looks on Aunt Louise and Uncle Fritz’s faces, they looked so protective, especially whenever a German came close to one of us. Uncle Fritz said: ‘Ah! Who’d have thought they’d ever play with German soldiers.’ And we enjoyed riling them. They are so annoying, going on at us all day long, trying to have a word with us, always wanting us to listen, always bossing us around.
4 July 1940
The Bosches who arrived on the 28th have left again. It’s so lovely and quiet. They were real brutes, and there were industrial quantities of them. The commander often walked around in nothing but his boots, his monocle and his riding whip.
We are waiting for another division of Bosches to arrive, any day now. What fun!
With France under German control, Italy declared its allegiance to Germany. Now fighting alone, Britain seemed to be facing the imminent threat of invasion. Churchill was determined to ‘fight for every inch’, as he told the nation over the radio: ‘Whatever has happened in France makes no difference to our actions and purpose.’ Inspired by Churchill’s resolve, From Cheshire Brian shared his own with Trudie.
20 June 1940
Dear Trudie,
Now for it, we’re expecting it any time now. Bombs, parachutists anything. We’re fighting with our backs to the wall, only us left to defend democracy. Any invader who sets foot on British soil is for it, instant death, no mercy. Any Italian pigs, especially. Only they daren’t come out to fight! I can’t see how you Americans stand by and watch, it’s as much your fault as ours. You helped to make the Versailles Treaty. You and us stopped France from knocking hell out of Germany in 1919. And you think you’re too far away to be troubled but if our fleet goes you’re doomed. I admit the material help you are giving is welcome but I don’t think it is enough. Your air force is small but the quality of men and material are I believe first rate. This thrown into the war would I’m sure turn the tables. Okay. It’s off my chest. Please don’t think me rude.
None of your letters have been censored only your mags. Nothing crossed out at all.
Just now our country is very beautiful. The trees are greener, the flowers prettier and even the birds seem to be singing sweeter. It makes us realize that these are the things we are fighting for. I and my friends are fully prepared to die fighting rather than let the Germans take all these things from us.
After great consideration I have decided to send a snap. It is three months old though. I’ll send you a better one as soon as possible. This isn’t a good one, you will notice also I’ve spilt rubber lubricant on my trousers.
Remember me to your people tell them not to worry we’ll win if it takes a hundred years.
Yours,
Brian
A month later Brian turned seventeen and was now old enough to join his father in the 1 million strong volunteer army created in May 1940 to help defend Britain from invasion.
4 August 1940
Dear Trudie,
The best news yet, I am in the Home Guard. I’ve had three rifle drills up to now and I do my first duty from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, three hours duty, the rest asleep on the floor ready for action. What we want is not to shoot the Bosche but to bayonet him. That which the Germans don’t like, cold steel. The General in command said our motto shall be:’Kill the Bosche’ and shoot to kill. Done a fine bit of work today, cleaned 20 rifles with Dad. No so bad, eh? Our house is simply littered with field dressings, supplies of uniforms, steel helmets, ammunition and I don’t know what.
You have a sensible choice of your ideal man. Most girls have soft ideas such as having a chap with his hair parted in the centre.
By jingo I’m looking forward to receiving the record of your voice. If it’s unbreakable you can send it at once, can’t you?
The Royal Air Force are distinctly puzzled. For years they have had no rivalry—met no serious competitors in matters of the fair sex. But now the Poles. No one quite knows what it is about the Poles. The girls are not very helpful about it. They just make silly cooing noises and go all goofy when you ask them. ‘Ooh! They’re too wonderful!’ is all you get. It is all very mysterious and galling for the Don Juans of the RAF. Also it’s impossible to tell a Pole who had just pinched your girl what you think of him. It is a waste of words, and you cannot very well hit a brave ally over a little thing like that.
Last night and the night before we were in the dugout but no bombs were dropped. A week ago three bombs were dropped 2 miles away. All three failed to explode.
I read some more articles about the Americans who think we are starving. They have offered to send food here. Do not believe it we have plenty. I am eating more than ever.
I am going to stay in bed if they come over tonight and get up if the bombs begin to fall.
Why are you not asking me questions? I’ve run dry because I’ve no questions to answer!
Questions:
What is your attitude to the idea of compulsory military training?
Are you doing any sunbathing?
How do you wear your hair?
Hoping you’re okay and having a fine time.
Yours,
Brian
Before the German troops could cross the Channel, the Luftwaffe needed to establish air superiority. Herbert was now stationed on the northern coast