Okay, here is the next part. This time, I used www.freetranslation.com/web.asp, which seems to be able to process bigger texts (with Babelfish, I had to cut into several pieces before submitting). But this translation seems to be worse (lots of French words still present).
Appendix 43-3-1 (continued)
Wednesday March 24 obstinate Germans
The 24, in fine afternoon, the extent of damages more exactly was measured German side. The morning had happened before all to manage the urgencies, but, at the beginning of evening, a plan for the following days had been sketched, even if it did not satisfy P.E. Cremer:
" The day had been horrible, and a new bad one hunted the other. Between the requirements of the mine clearance experts, that were priority, the one of the Engineers, that were urgent, the one of the Navy, that were vital, and the one of the civil ones, that were disturbing if of adventure the assistant one of the Gauleiter returned, it fallut to split quickly. About 17 hours, everyone gathered to assess the situation and prepare the continuation.
The mine clearance experts talked first:
We neutralized the two non exploded bombs that were located to some meters of the canal, as well as the one that emerged from the sludge of a reach that had emptied itself after the rupture of his downhill lock. But there are some doubtless of others in sectors always in water. How will we continue?
The response did not be simple. The most convenient one was to empty the concerned reach, but that risked flooding again more the approaches, and especially to empty a huge portion of the canal of his water, this that, with the loss of the water because of the raid on Saturday, did not be conceivable.
To the turn of the lieutenant of the Engineers:
The new good one, if one can say, this is that it there has not nothing beyond repair. There where the bank collapsed, it is possible to reinforce it with pile plank, then to accumulate and compacter of the earth behind. For the locks, one is in the same position that more in upstream. Instead of some to rebuild an or two, one some will rebuild six or seven, and instead of replacing some harbors, one some will replace two tens. With regards to the bad new one, the list is on the other hand long. The first problem will be to arrive to work enough quickly. If one put the whole canal to dry, this would be doubtless easier. The second one, this the one of the manpower. It will be necessary terrassiers and masons, that one will have to go to look for with the civil ones, and doubtless far, for one will not be able to requisition big world in the corner, all the young ones having been sent to the arbeitsdienst [ STO]. And I do not want the Gauleiter to send me Polish prisoners or unfortunate one camp of Schirmeck, with the SS that go with! Too much boredoms in comparison with the profit! At last, it will be necessary to evacuate the wrecks. Impossible of bring heavy cranes, the banks would not withstand.
I divided his view point on the employment of the prisoners, they had not nothing to do here.
For the cranes, one will see with the naval work-site. The engineer Fleischmann arrived from Toulon and it will rejoin us in some minutes, it is doing to explain this that happened. Said me, you are the second one to want to empty the canal. How will do you for that without worsening the position, and how you will fill it again? Ah, Herr Fleischmann, you fall just at the right moment! What in think you?
I cannot to say some for you more than this than you already know, so than I will not be able to attain the submarine ones.
Done not be said me that you also would want as they be accessible on foot?
But yes, Herr Kapitnenleutnant
The lieutenant of the Engineers talked.
To empty properly the canal, this is not a problem. One will leave water to flow itself enough slowly bief by bief, until she empties herself in the Largue by the gaps of the bridge canal. And to fill the canal again, there is a solution if the nutrition pools are not full. That way, we will remake bricklaying and resettle the sluice gates.
And all that will last how much time?
Too early to say it today. All will depend on number of workers. At least a month, more probably two.
Well, Sirs. Therefore, one empties the canal starting now. Next, the mine clearance experts act. Tomorrow evening, I want the non exploded bombs to evacuate, for that the civil ones that I had on the back all day long can return at their place. Next, the Luftwaffe installs its guns correctly, even if it there has few luck that these crazy ones of French return. Friday, Herr Fleischmann and myself will go to see the boats closely. And I want that all the dead fish that begin feeling bad disappeared when I will pass! Next, priority to the repair of the first damages to restore the water stock. During this time, release of the wrecks while the cut to the blowtorch if it is necessary it, and, after, repair of the canal in the bombarded zone. "
Saturday March 27 Germanic Effectiveness (again)
The 27, even if it did not digest the loss of the half of his floats, P.E. Cremer could only to congratulate itself for rapidity with which the Wehrmacht had resumed the over, at least morally, after the events of the flowed week:
" The Engineers showed on this occasion all its capacities. With the assistance of civil businesses requisitioned as early as Monday, the reconstruction of the locks destroyed by the commando unit worked quickly. Besides, apart during the aerial attack, the work never had not stopped itself! The cement lack, that one feared to a moment, quickly was forgotten, the Altkirch cement industry, that did not turn anymore than to the slowed down since 1941 by lacks coal, having been supplied. Rather than to rebuild the sluice gates pools reservoirs to the identical one, the Engineers gathered all this that was located in the deposit of the Canal to Mulhouse and itself mit to remake a bricklaying nine adapted to this that it had recovered. " A true worthy do-it-yourself of the French, but with the serious German!" they said. April 10 at the latest, all this part would be finished. And as it had begun raining to towards, I didn't fear about later filling up of the canal.
In regards to the bridge canal, it was decided to rebuild two batteries in concrete to the place of the one that were collapsed and to link a type of goulotte in armed concrete to the intact extremities of the bridge canal. The inspector of navigation itself in charge of doing to evacuate the excavations by a corner contractor, and I it in remerciai. I was unaware of that it continued thus to do to disappear from the proofs!
For the bombarded part, the manpower was awaited on Mondays. A lot of terrassement first (craters to fill, banks to consolidate, discharge of the fallen earth in the canal), then reconstruction of the locks as in upstream. The harbors being all of the even models, their manufacture was in course to Mulhouse.
Remained this that was the most important one for me: the submarine ones. Seven of them were broken, I the oubliai. But this were on those that were damaged that the debate was the liveliest one with the engineer Fleischmann. For someone, we were in agreement: seen the extent of damages, they were lost, it was unthinkable climb a naval work-site on the spot. For others, that I estimated intact, he demonstrated, meter and plans to the hand, that they would necessitate very big repairs because of the deformation or weakening of the resistant partitions to the pressure or of others structure internal, even themselves they could follow travels for them on the canal. The final report was therefore of seven broken boats, six coudl be repaired in theory, but intransportables, and six that would necessitate a partial reconstruction in a specialized work-site. It did not remain for me therefore that hui t absolutely undamaged whales, of which the one that had escaped bombardment. In regards to the tugs, the position was less dramatic: two were lost, the shell ventre, but the others, once evacuated all the water that they had embarked, should be able to set off again. I would dispose therefore of 13 tugs for 14 submarine ones (eight intact ones and six damaged ones), this that would facilitate me life, but it was lean as consolation.
This Saturday 27, I invited the Engineers and Luftwaffe officers to diner with me to the inn The head of Deer. Dieter Thunau, confirmed in his role of liaison officer between the Heer and the Navy, was also with us. The employer seemed a little nervous, it m'expliqua me that it was had to the fatigue linked to the activity addition since a week, with all the military officers to serve. The conversation porta all naturally on the length of our "stay". The Riesling helping, everyone was optimist: one talked about May 15, of the 1er June to the worse one. To all useful ends, I had done to prepare by Franz Klein of the detailed instructions for the four whales that were located before the cut of Dannemarie and their two tugs, so that they return to Strasburg and rejoin Chalon by another itinerary, well longer. If we set off again enough early, they would finish the trip with us.
Dieter Thunau we raconta discovered them done alongside the works of the Groove, alas gruesome mostly, to the point that it was seriously question to lay out a cemetery to give a decent burial to the soldiers of the two camps of the preceding war, of which remain them were rediscovered every day. Visibly well informed, it us expliqua also as the call to denunciation launched by the Gauleiter not nothing had given, except some neighborhood vengeancees without interest. For him, those that had done to jump the canal had not done their preparations side Alsatian, but in the Territory of Belfort, not passing in Alsace that to commit their sabotage, taking advantage thus unity lack between the administrations, civil or military officers, of alsace and of France occupied. I myself rappelai the words of the colonel of Belfort, that repeated that it never would act in Alsatian territory. Anyway, the Gauleiter Wagner was does it appear furious and the Alsatian ones not steps were going to delay itself some general idea. I am said that more quickly we would have left, better that would be worth."
Sunday March 28 Spring
The 28, first springs Sunday, Georges Hartmann took the train for Dannemarie with his spouse and their small boy. It went of course to see his brother for an innocent family meeting.
Because of the military crowd of the last days, Alphonse had to hire additional personnel, and it was several interrupted times during the lunch to regulate problems to the cooking or in the service. It is only about 16 hours that it put to take his brother to leaves for him to talk about the last events: " I have not a lot of times, I go to the essential one. Last night, I had German officers and I was able to seize some words. For our bridge, officially, this is an accident, even if I am persuaded that at least an of our loads exploded. With the limbered one up one that they collected to Valdieu while they looked at all elsewhere, then bombardment, I suppose that that arranges them well. To leaves that, they are jammed there until the end May " It not put some to say more, being again called in the room.
The two families left about 18 hours, without having talked about war, or almost. The alone evoked episode was the one of the aerial alarm that had resounded to Mulhouse on Tuesdays. Herr Doktor Graunitz had precipitated itself in the antiaircraft shelter as early as the first siren blow, this that had been worth for him ironic remarks from its German colleagues, finding his behavior " unexpected from a hero of Tannenberg". He said that it himself there had returned the first one "to verify the manner in which the installation of the patients in the shelter would be done ", this that the other firent pretence to believe German too much ears led by there for that of the more delicate questions are approached, the differences between the Alsatian one and the Hochdeutsch not assuring a sufficient discretion.
While descending train to Mulhouse, Georges was surprised by the presence in number of the different police forces of the Reich, to start with the one of which the members carried long leather coats. It eut more big evil to hide his worry to his woman.
For the commando unit of Michel Fabre, this Sunday marqua the end of the bcheronnage, even if the eight men kept chop and axes to go to Saint-Claude the next day 29. These tools avoided all question on their profession and suffisaient to explain their presence in these regions of forests. To Saint-Claude, they left their axes and itself rpartirent by two or three in the tortillard that went to lyon-perrache, where they firent stop in the same hotel that fifteen days earlier. Of there, they had to leave for Carcassonne, where a new mission awaited them, for they were in France, they there remained! The Boss Martinez rejoiced at to review his country, but Rock Bilger (of which the promotion to the rank of sergent had been confirmed) and Franois Sifert henceforth were prayed of not more to speak than in French, while doing moreover attention to their accent. But while the commando unit moved away itself, the stick cut down itself on the region of its first exploits.
Monday March 29, Monday April 5: the stick
The nightmare of the inhabitants of the district of Dannemarie and valley of the Drops commena at six o'clock in the morning March 29, when the mayors of the towns, nevertheless designated for their sympathy indeed their allegiance to the system nazi were awakened without consideration by the Gestapo. The signed grade of the Gauleiter that was put back for them enunciated the menu of the rjouissances:
" All the movements outside of those necessary for the work henceforth are forbidden to the inhabitants of the district of Dannemarie and to those of the valley of the Drops. In an emergency, exclusively of medical nature or linked to the death of a member of the family, a valid Ausweis for an alone travels will be delivered by police authorities.
Every man or woman of which the work is situated outside of the commune of his residence will have to do to establish an Ausweis by the city hall, countersigned by the one of the city hall of his work place. The persons of which the work drives them to move itself to several places (doctors, employed transportations) will do to establish their Ausweis by police authorities."
But the worse one figured in the bottom of the grade:
" All the families of which a member (father, mother, brother, sister, cousin) is located currently outside of the territory of the Reich or of its allies see themselves fallen of the German nationality for 5 years. It some is of even for all the one of which a member currently is committed to the rehabilitation camp by the work of Schirmeck. All these persons have access to 48 hours to do their luggage, limited to 30 kg by individual. They will have to abandon all their other possessions, that come back to the Reich, and will be moved in Saxe and in Silsie, where they will have the possibility to rediscover their honor of citizen of the Reich while working to the placement in value of these regions. The mayors are loaded with application of this disposal and held for personal persons in charge in case of manquement.
Heil Hitler!
Robert Wagner, Gauleiter"
During this time, the troop locked the roads and the ways taking to concerned every town, where the trains, when there was a train station, did not stop themselves more. The persons inhabitant to the exterior one curled zone and that attempted there to penetrate were repressed. All escape possibility towards Switzerland was forbidden and alone some families of the border towns parvinrent to escape. The stick had cut down itself heavily, and Wagner had again some blows some reserves, destined this time to the body of the Alsatian ones.
Two days later, on Wednesdays March 31, several trains partirent of the train stations of Dannemarie and of altkirch towards the regions brumeuses situated to the confine of the Poland. Village solidarity joua nevertheless, in a certain measure. When these families (or less their members survivors) revinrent after having been liberated by the Red army (to that they had had well evil to explain their position), they intact retrouvrent most of the although they had left behind they. The most, for their cattle and their poultries were dead during their absence, following an epidemic that had saved the animals of the families that had not been moved
The measures of the Gauleiter not firent the matter of Peter Cremer.
" On Mondays March 28 to in the morning, the whole work-site of discount in condition to the canal itself retrouva more or less paralyzed. The disposals of the Gauleiter prevented the civil workers to come to work, and the materials, notably the cement and the sand, of us to arrive. Nevertheless, the Allies did not bother us hardly: since the passage of a recognition airplane some hours after bombardment, no device enemy did not fly across anymore the canal and alone warn them resulted from identification errors.
The Genius protesta by the hierarchic way against brought discomfort to its works and an extremely dry grade was addressed to the Gauleiter by the General Tscherning, of Strasburg. The Gauleiter, doubtless strong of its personal relations with the Fhrer, eut the composure to reply that the army had only to assume the consequences of its own manquements. It is not astonishing in these conditions that the general in question took part in the Anti-hitlerian movement that began being born in the army, and this despite his placement to the retirement in July.
This not that over the weekend that the work reprit almost normally, but the new brought restrictions to the circulation the following week we causrent again of boredoms."
In fact, on Mondays April 5, a new proclamation of the Gauleiter was posted, this time as a whole alsace:
"Alsatian!
For your security, the movements outside of the commune of the residence henceforth are limited to those strictly necessary to the economical activity of production, to the medical needs and to the relations with the near family. An Ausweis will have to be presented to all demand of police authorities, this document specifying, according to the position of each, which are the movements that are authorized for him. It will belong to the city halls and to police authorities to deliver these Ausweis, according to precise methods that were communicated for them. These disposals cancel the one, more restrictive, being able to have been taken in certain localities.
These measures do not apply to the born persons in the territory of the Reich before the 1er September 1939, for which ones the disposals currently in force continue to apply. ()
Robert Wagner, Gauleiter"
As early as in the morning of April 5, tails gaze at themselves to form itself and to lengthen itself in front of the city halls, the former French police force and other commissionerships, the "precise methods" occupying about thirty typed orderlies, with the necessity of a recourse to "superior authority" in case of difficulty. This not that at the end of the week that Georges Hartmann trouva the time to be going to look for his Ausweis, that was delivered for him immediately for movements without restriction, because of his profession of doctor. Graunitz, as a citizen German, escaped of course to this measure.
10 to April 30 The whims of the forecast
Towards April 10, the time passa frankly to the beautiful one, the temperature not delaying attaining levels habitually met in summer, and rain itself more and more rare fit. The peasants feared a scorching summer, after a soft winter and not very watered. Peter Cremer grieved itself: " April 15, while the locks destroyed by the commando unit at last were repaired (with a week of delay) and that the nutrition pools were again in state to the even dates, rain cessa completely. Fifteen days earlier, we had soaked, and now that she would have been for us useful, water did to await itself! In front of this position, I j'ordonnai to the boats being located before Dannemarie, that could not besides not yet we to rejoin, the bridge canal being far of completely to be repaired, of done u-turn and to be going to await us to Chalon."
Despite all, the water level climbed, but very slowly, in the parties put back in condition to the canal, different streams supplying the division bief. April 24, the troops of the Genius attaqurent seriously the repair of the section damaged by bombardment, all while following the repairing of the Groove. Remove the wrecks had not non more easy summer, despite the dbrouillardise of the sailors and engineer Fleischmann, relates Cremer:
" The first point to regulate was the one of the cutting of the carcasses of the Typ II, that it was necessary to reduce to pieces of the more some tons. Find the workers for that was paradoxically less difficult that for the terrassiers. The mechanics factories of Mulhouse, that did not turn to their normal capacity, we the fournirent thanks to the demands. If, to the, beginning, that alla enough quickly, doubtless because these Alsatian ones were happy to to destroy German manufactures, the rhythm slows down quickly. The rcriminations concerning the work in mud or the collapse risks of the banks maybe were justified, but they especially had understood that more they led, less that arranged us. Next, it fallut to release canal the cut sheet metal. The alone simple solution was to resort to to provided cranes of lectro-aimants, but for that and to move these cranes alongside the canal, it was necessary powerful generating sets. We finmes by to find two cranes climbed on rails in the vicinity of Mulhouse, that it fallut to dismantle, and for which ones of the way sections steel-tipped last to be laid out on the way of halage. All that prit of the time, a lot too much times."
The bridge canal of Dannemarie now was repaired, but the corresponding bief remained at dry. P.E. Cremer demanda to the Genius that it is filled fastest possible, so that the two intact submarine ones that rested on the bottom of the canal can set off again in the other feels and go to Chalon as soon as possible. The lieutenant of the Genius him demanda " just some days, the time to be going to look for Hercules to divert a river."
Maintain the morale of the sailors did not be non easier. For lack of anything more better, Cremer autorisa of the permissions by rumble, always hoping to be able to set off again before fine May, the sky going to end up to bring again rain.
1er May to June 13 Patience and times length
The Saturday 1er May, the release of the wrecks continued, slowly, as well as the repairs of the bombarded section. The nutrition groove of the canal was again in service, but his debit was well weak facing the needs. Cremer: " The problem of the water level in the canal always remained entire. It was necessary about 2,30 m and one was only to 50 or 60 cm in the repaired party, without even to talk about the one that did not be it not yet. To this rhythm, it would be necessary to await the month of July to the better to be able to set off again. The Genius had left me to glimpse a solution, but I do not always see nothing to come."
On Thursdays May 6, the lieutenant of the Genius was at last return, without Hercules It demanda immediately to see P.E. Cremer:
" It commena by to put a big cheese ball of Holland on the table, while being said me: " To improve the ordinary one, from my colleagues of over there, thanks to that one goes itself some go out." Taken aback, I him demandai to explain.
As let us lack us water coming from in top, one will use water coming from down below!
While digging wells? With Holland drills?
No, one never would have had enough water. But while pumping the water of the rivers neighbor canal. One already uses the water of the Drops, of which one not nothing will be able to pull of more. But it remains us the ill and especially the Doubs!
But it will be necessary kilometers of pipes!
Why? One installs to every lock between the high point and the Doubs a pump that the Dutch one use habitually for their polders and as that, one does to climb back up water. Ditto side of the ill.
You are sure that that will walk? There will be enough water in the rivers?
Yes! In theory, in 48 hours, one will have filled the superior biefs of the canal. Even if one puts a week because one cannot nonetheless to drain the Doubs, the matter is regulated. And on the other side, it will be necessary almost it same delay for the bief where the two submarine ones are at the dry one. And next, when the whole canal will be repaired, one will fill the parties that it was necessary to drain same manner.
And your pumps, you pull them leg how? You have also amen the mills to wind?
One sees that that goes better, you recommence to joke. Tomorrow morning, a train with a dozen pumps arrives some parks Dannemarie, where it will be awaited by equipped trucks of generating sets. With that, one would have at last itself some go out.
Effectively, the next day May 7, the pumps arrivrent. And on Mondays 10, pumping began between the ill and the bief of Dannemarie. The Genius had not been mistaken, at the end of the week, the water level had become sufficient on this portion of the canal. No administrative difficulty not vint to impede pumping. The Saturday 15, the Genius dplaa pump them to fill the division bief while sending for the water of the Doubs. To the end of a new week, the bombarded party of the canal henceforth being repaired, the long section to dry of the Alsatian side, downstream stairway of Valdieu, put she also to be put in water. At the same time, the submarine ones were repositionns on their frameworks, the tugs put back in state and, June 8, we were ready to set off again.
I had done to last the also permissions a long time as possible, and the morale had returned, even if I had lost the half of my floats. The admiral Doenitz, that I had held informed almost daily, me fit to know that my efforts had been appreciated and that it regretted of not to be able to go on the spot, being more and more occupied by the conduit of the body of the operations of the Kriegsmarine."
On Tuesdays June 9, the submarine reprirent slowly their progression towards the Mediterranean. But the quantity of available water was again weak, and Montbliard was attained only the Saturday June 13. It is true that P.E. Cremer took a maximum of precautions, equipment having suffered from bombardment and long inaction period, even if his not consisting of convoy more than ten submarine ones and eleven tugs. This time, the Heer preceded the movement, keeping every section of the canal, lock or bridge at least 24 hours in advance. And all the evenings, the broadcasting station of the network "iron Lion" gave the position of the convoy to Algiers.
14 to June 24 at last the Sane!
On Sundays June 14, Georges Hartmann revint with his woman and his son to see his brother, to Dannemarie. The inn was practically empty, alone some rare Alsatian customers occupying the room. The family Hartmann put to converse freely:
Says therefore, you did matters, the latter weeks, with all these Germans!
Yes and no, they negotiated the tariffs, and i must hire world. Of more, they emptied my stock of Riesling, and I had a crazy evil to some to rediscover.
Always to complain, as the peasants, this is well known in your corporate body! Says me, why did you have problems to buy wine?
Oh, even for me, this is not very clear. The winegrower with that I bought it, to Bennwihr, related me that its vines, that it nevertheless had transplanted in 1932 and that gave good wine, had been pulled out on decision of the Germans for "improvement of the quality" and that it was incapable to sell to me although this be before it sleep it off 1944. It added that it was without resources, in front of, with its two sons, to be going to work in the exploitation of a neighbor, of which the vines had not been touched.
And this is with the neighbor that you bought your wine?
You laugh? Has a member of the Party? When my habitual supplier will completely be mown down, this dear neighbor will repurchase him its vines to base price "for him to return service". If the war does not arrange itself before, of course Finally, I bought my Riesling in another town of the vineyard. But it is not so good. This is of the 1940, a year to forget!
And that some say the customers?
With all the circulation restrictions, I not in have almost more. Those that remain are too buddies with the Nazis, when they are not nazis themselves, for that I appreciate them.
At last, our big fish are nonetheless remained almost three months in roads.
Yes, and without their pumps, they there still remained at least also a long time. The guys of the army of the air did a beautiful work
You read the communiqu of the Gauleiter? "These French that, happy nos to abandon the alsace in June 1940 while leaving behind them of the heaps of ruins, in a cowardly ways murdered of the civil Alsatian one." At last, one knows their music Nothing to signal, for the bridge canal?
THE INSPECTOR of navigation always declared that it was a chance accident when the Germans were in the parts. But, once, while we were alone, it was said me in Alsatian, while looking at me right in the eyes, that a well worse accident could have arrived to the unconscious ones that had done that. Has good entendeur You continuous always to send pieces of information by Switzerland?
Yes, but it not himself big pass thing to likely Mulhouse to interest our friends.
And side nutrition, this is not too hard?
One finds of less in less than things on the markets, and all the patients of the hospital complain. There is only those of the country that did not begin slimming. When to Graunitz, it gladdens himself ouvertement of the position!
Good, as at our place there is again to eat, you will not return the empty hands.
Georges Hartmann sets off again at his place in fine afternoon. Eggs, a chicken, a sausage and cherries outfitted the bottom of his bag as well as the one of his spouse. As all an each, it bypassed the last disposals taken by the Gauleiter, that hoped that starved, the Alsatian ones were going to show themselves more supple. Checked to the gone out of the train station, they were not worried, the municipal policeman greeting them respectful of a " Guten Abend, Herr und Frau Doktor " without searching them.
The following week, the German convoy crosses Besanon. The delicate passage of the situated lock to the gone out of the tunnel of the Citadel, in a squeezed turn, prit all day long. Then this was Dle, Saint-Jean de Losne and Verdun on the Doubs, last step before Chalon-on-Sane, that was attained June 24, and no special event not having come to disrupt his progression, except incidents minors and difficulties linked to the water lack to certain places. The pumps had returned in Holland, once past Montbliard. The submarine ones always were accompanied by the 5me Infantry regiment of replacement of Mulhouse and by a company of Flak of the Luftwaffe. And it was henceforth the network "Brandy" that informed Algiers of the progression of the convoy.
Nemo-III or not nemo-III ?
Allied side, following the nemo-ii success, the tat-major put itself serious questions on a new destined operation to destroy the submarine survivors. The appetite coming while eating, as this good knew, the locking of the convoy during some weeks, that was the initial objective, seemed henceforth well too modest, and the destruction of the half of the floats of submarine ones appeared as a first step, that called the complete suppression. But where and how to hit again and to which opposition it was necessary to expect, now that the surprise effect had not anymore no luck to play?
The first idea was an aerial new bombardment of the canal, this time to Saint-Jean de Losne, already envisaged target for nemo-ii. But the potential profit of such a bombardment was only well weak, all to the more a delay of two weeks in the progression of the convoy, the Germans having shown their know-how in the matter of put back in condition to the locks. Saint-Jean de Losne was excluded, the target the more logic became Chalon, where, knew one, a transbordement of the submarine ones on regular customers would take place, in the naval work-site situated Schneider on the left shore of the Sane, to the Small creusot. But a bombardment down with altitude of the naval work-site this time would have been suicidal, the Flak accompanying the convoy, and there is no doubt that she would be deployed to the approaches of the naval work-site during the length of the transbordement. Someone suggra to ask the RAF to divert on Chalon some airplanes of a massive new raid foreseen on the Creusot, but the Defense Counsel National itself there opposa, night bombardments of the English, notoriously imprecise, risking doing many civil victims, all while spoiling the assigned target.
An intervention of the Resistance to Chalon during the transbordement seemed to be a more interesting track, so much than the network "Brandy" was well structured. But the perspective to have to confront at least the equivalent one of a regiment of the Wehrmacht in a restricted space fit to reject all operation of this nature. As for to attack the convoy once on the Sane or the Rhne, this did not be the penalty of there to think, for, even with heavy machine guns or mortars, there was only very few luck to succeed in a tangible result there where an ambush could have brought up.
There remained a last attack possibility: the trip between the opening in the Mediterranean, to Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne, and Toulon. There, it was the matter of the National Navy, that again had not intervened in this history. The sailors gaze at themselves therefore seriously to student an operation, knowing that it was necessary to expect that the regular customers carrying the submarine ones seriously are escorted by the good ones to all to do coastal of the Kriegsmarine, flirts of well armed expressions (r-boots). Of more, a solid aerial cover was evidently to foresee.
June 25 to July 1st : Against bad fortune
Once arrived to Chalon, the German eurent to make several decision delicate about the transfer towards Toulon. The peter-erich testimony Cremer is revealing of the uncertainties reigning at this point in time:
" Has our big surprised one, it not us arriva more nothing notable between Valdieu and Chalon once we fmes at last set off again. At first, I took the most extreme precautions, slowing down voluntarily maneuver them to avoid at least all incident of our does. But nothing not itself produisit. The Heer accompanied us and we preceded: every evening, the steps of the next day and surlendemain were prepared, the sensitive points to oversee designated and the soldiers set themselves up, while of others we accompanied, in truck, on the way of halage or the roads following the canal and the Doubs. Which damage that this device was not set up as early as the departure! But, no more regrets, the essential one now was to arrive to voucher lay with this that remained boats.
Has Chalon, where the regiment of the Heer had occupied the naval work-site as well as the river harbor, and prevented thus all undesirable one to approach, a disappointment awaited us, but she was largely compensated by an interesting timeliness. To our arrival, we fmes welcome by three personages: a German of the administrative services of occupation, a civil French to the particularly obsequious air, and a French other that visibly past more time in the workshops that in the offices. My compatriot m'expliqua me that because of our delay, it had not been able to keep the barges and the necessary tugs for bring our submarine ones to Toulon. To the place, it proposed me self-propelled boats of the Rhne, enough neighbors of those used on the Rhine, but it not some had that eight on the spot, the others being blocked to the other boils Rhne "because of the fuel lack." The French bureaucrat agreed boss, for lack of be able to confirm in German the declarations of his counterpart. That did not arrange me of course, for I had no craving to make moldy here, when Klaus Fleischmann, that at length had discussed his side with the French other, m'annona me that there was strong luck for that the six submarine ones that had undergone comparatively light damages can be put back in state here. I myself rappelai then the submarine French of which the manufacture had been interrupted and that I had glimpsed the preceding fall.
When I demandai to the French bureaucrat where were the bargemen that were going to take these boats, its responses were one cannot anymore evasive. Visibly, I had inherited of these barges, of which it knew only to do, because they had been confiscated to their owners, that did not have to be completely same edge that the government Laval. My men me firent besides a report little enthusiast on the state of these boats, dirty, rusted and stripped of all equipment outside of those absolutely essential. Even the sleeping cars had not anymore matelas! In front of this position, I demandai anyway to my mechanics to verify and to put back in state if necessary the motors and the different apparaux. Next, my men essayrent the barges on the Sane until to have them well in hand. As one was in summer, I not myself m'inquitai too current downstreamer, on the Rhne. It is only after the load of the submarine put to begin.
Two days before setting off again, eight big others barges entrrent in the harbor of Chalon. The French official vint immediately to see me, the very happy air of him: " I did you to climb back up these boats since Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne. Thanks to my relations, I ended up to obtain enough gazole, I hope that they you will be useful." What did it hope on my part? Thanks? A tip? My six clops were again far to be repaired, Klaus Fleischmann talking about again several weeks, despite the arrival of Toulon of several teams of German specialists that hung around to await us. These additional barges, in so bad state as the preceding ones, would not serve me to nothing for the moment. I again was cursing when Franz Klein vint to take stock of the threats that awaited us on the remainder of the trip to the Mediterranean, as well as on the taken disposals to oppose them. But once arrived to the sea, it would be necessary again to succeed in Toulon. This is at this point in time that I began thinking that the eight garbage cans floating that had just arrived we could be useful strong!"
2 to July 5: Chalon Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne, next to last step
It did not be anymore possible for P.E. Cremer to continue to lose boats, and the placement in service of the Typ ii-e was more and more urgent. It chooses therefore to leave with the eight intact shells, leaves to organize a second transfer between Chalon and Toulon some weeks later for the six others.
Well heard, the descent of the Rhne was meticulous prepared. The measures to avoid all bad surprised one were impressive. First of all, the small tugs that had served on the canals were modified: their propellor to allow for them to go more quickly (they had not anymore load to pull) and each was armed of two heavy machine guns to use compared escort. All the locations propices to an ambush were spotted by Franz Klein and Dieter Thunau and had to be occupied by the troop the necessary time. At the time of the crossing of the big cities as Mcon, Valence and of course Lyon, all circulation would be forbidden on the quays, pedestrians understand. Ditto on the all the bridges crossing the river, even those of iron way. For more of precautions, two Fieseler Storch were going to fly across while taking turns the approaches of the river down with altitude forward of the convoy, in order to spot all abnormality. Even the fishermen to the line were going to be been evicted! The three points of foreseen stops (Lyon, just before the confluence with the Rhne, Valence, downstream city, and Avignon) harshly would be kept by the troops in garrison on the spot, and, side of the river, destined nets to stop eventual expressions bringing down the current would be set up. A battalion of the 5me Infantry regiment of Replacement, ready to intervene at any moment, would use movable force. Besides, it did not be anymore of the all question than this regiment go in Russia. Once arrived with the submarine ones by the Mediterranean, it there would remain to reinforce the lean forces being located already on the spot, in the less and less absurd hypothesis of a disembarkation enemy in the south of France.
July 2, the sixteen barges partirent of Chalon. The Kriegsmarine had not given itself the penalty to repaint them in the statutory and single colors the house of the German Navy showed for that they sailed. It was necessary a comparatively exercised eye to distinguish the one that transported a submarine one of the eight others. The coutille panels in curved sheet metal had been put by over the submarine ones and set up to vertical boards extending up the hiloires of wedges. The empty barges had been ballasted to sink itself in water almost as much as the one carrying the submarine ones and, at least by far, it was impossible to distinguish them of one another. These disposals had for goal, the first ones, to protect the shells of the submarine ones of the shooting of weapons of small calibre or lances of grenades, the seconds, that to divide by two the risk of a blow to the goal.
It not fallut that three days to rejoin Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne of the Rhne, that narrowly was checked by the Heer little before the arrival of the convoy.
During the trip, despite the taken measures, the convoy put to be observed several times in of good conditions, notably to Lyon where, of his window of the Saint-Vincent quay, a former neighborhood master of the National Navy do not n'eut no evil to distinguish the barges transporting the submarine ones of the others, and even to note their names and numbers. Information not tarda to be transmitted to that of right. On the other hand, person not put to attempt the least offensive action during the whole trip on the Sane and the Rhne or to the arrival to Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne. The night, the boats were too well kept; the day, the lack of proportion between the means of the Resistance and those of the Germans was really too important. Even if this position was not going to delay changing
5 to July 6: Welcome committee in Mediterranean
Once known the new one departure of the convoy, the submarine Monge traversa the Mediterranean to land two men on the coast camarguaise in the night of the 4 to July 5, before to get up it Moon. They had for mission to signal the passage of the convoy in the arm of the Rhne going Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne to the sea. Nevertheless got used to the missions of this type, the order of the Monge was not reassured. The funds were near dangerous of the quille of his submarine one, preventing all dived precipitated and the zone was patrolled in permanence by the Germans. The record of the two men were simple: to be anxious itself the listens radio to the advisable hours, observe discreetly and transmit the alarm message at the time of the passage. But by over all, an imperative one: not to do to take itself! They trouvrent a suitable location, where shrubs assured a relative discretion, and itself there enterrrent literally, hoping not to have to await too a long time.
The day of the 5 was marked by the repeated passage of German patrols, visibly of routine, but the 6, soldiers in Feldgrau s'installrent itself alongside the river. Moreover, several small war boats remontrent the arm of the Rhne. All indicated therefore that the gone out of the submarine ones on their barges with escorts for them was for soon, so much more than the time was beautiful and the moderate wind. An hour before it sunset, eight barges accompanied by six flirts of expressions (r-boots) passrent in front of the observation post improvised, motors to the slowed down. The name or the number of someone purent to be deciphered, they corresponded to those that figured on the transmitted list to the Monge by the Pieces of information. And, as the outline of the barges showed clearly the surlvation of the panels of wedges, more no doubt was allowed: the submarine ones went out! The one of the two men transmit with his transmitting radio to short reach the very brief encoded message announcing the gone out. To the third attempt, the reception accused suited was returned. It did not remain anymore to the duet than to make to forget itself, his recuperation being foreseen for the night of the next day.
The German ones thus announced boats were awaited.
The National Navy had not put a long time to define his welcome committee, in the greatest secrecy. Several parameters had been taken into account: the probable trip between Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne and Toulon, his length and the escort that the Kriegsmarine could furnish. For the first point, seen the employed boats, the trip would follow doubtless the coast to the most near, this that allowed for them to be able to take refuge itself in a harbor as Blackcurrant or fastest possible Sanary in case of problem. Next, to 7 or 8 knots, the estimated length of the transfer would be of a good ten of hours. As for the escort, she would limit herself probably to flirts of expressions (r-boots) or disembarkation barges (Marinefhrprahm, MFP), of which the armament (a 88 mm, a 37 mm and of the 20 mm) could some to do the opposing fearsome for light unities or airplanes. But as the Moon did not raise itself that after the end of the night, a night transfer was well more conceivable than a day operation, obscurity compensating widely in this case the absence of cover aerial.
To attack this convoy, it did not be question to send big surface unities, that would have been detected a long time in advance by the station radar of the agay Kriegsmarine or the aerial patrols carried out by the KG 26 from the lands of the Crau. Light unities would not have the necessary power. Remained a weapon: the submarine ones.
The departure idea was simple: one of the submersible ones would spot the convoy more near possible of his departure point, would follow it next and the would attack from the wide one. The convoy would look for then doubtless to take refuge itself in a harbor, in front of which a submarine other would await it and would do him his matter, while taking keeps to the weak tonnage of the barges carrying the submarine ones. For the envisaged ambush, the better zone was the one understood between Blackcurrant and Bandol, where the funds well rather deep to allow the submarine ones to operate in of good conditions. Well heard, it fallut equally to assure itself that there was not field of expressions bothering in the parts, this that was verified. The Minerve was chosen to detect and follow the convoy, then to attack it to proximity of the zone where l' Iris would await it. The second of l' Iris , the Vessel sign Lagane, remembers particularly well of this night of the 5 to July 6 1943:
" At the beginning of night, we did surface to about 10 thousand of the coast, to refill the battery, and we to put to the listens radio. Towards 20h00 GMT, we emes the confirmation that our objective had put itself in road. The Minerve the repra for the first time before the twilight while it crossed the gulf of Fos, then the surveilla to the hydrophones until the island Riou, the accompanying from afar in alternating walks it in dived and in surface to maintain the battery at the level of maximum load. From there, after a last one and brief contact radio emitted little before The Ciotat to confirm that the convoy did henceforth road towards the Embiez and that what's more of the barges, it included about eight escort buildings, the Minerve itself mit in his wake to six or seven knots, in dived. The night was absolutely black and, kiosk of our building, alone the stars were visible. Arrived to the height of the point of the Deffend, the Minerve s'carta itself somewhat towards the wide one, before of done surface and, to 3 h 25 very precisely, she envoya a shell lighting up above the convoy. We awaited it since some time, and we estimated then the convoy to 3 or 4 thousand to the south-south one-is of our own position. The sarabande was going to be able to begin, so much more than it sunrise would produce itself three quarters of hour later and than the boats enemies would see themselves at last! The German virrent on bbord, taking a northeastern cape, visibly to look for a shelter to Bandol or to Sanary, pourchasss by the Minerve that sent to them shells of his canon of 75, the departure of the invisible remaining blows since we used special powder for fights night. The German escort retorted to the aveuglette, but the doubt was not allowed, it was canons of 88 that thundered. The escort had therefore summer reinforced by MFP, doubtless while passing in front of The Ciotat, and it was necessary all in all to avoid their blows that would have been fatal! It was now to us to intervene, first of all with our twinning of 40 mm that had replaced the 75 of origin, to separate the escort boats being located of our side. At least a flirt was thus touched, since we vmes the flash of an of explosion followed by a fire beginning. It s'carta himself without retorting, we leaving the free field, and, in the glimmer preceding the day, we pmes to send our torpedo on the barges, of which four firent wipes, flowing each a boat enemy. Pull on the barges to the canon would not have served to big thing; the shell of the submarine ones that they transported would have played the role of a huge one well difficult flotteur to pierce. But it fallut next dive in catastrophe, a star launches torpedo rushing on us to big speed. Once this past threat, we refmes surface, to see the convoy to look for refuge in the bay of Bandol, where would not risk being going to follow it, the funds being insufficient. This is while we encaissmes a shell of 37 mm, coming from west, again in the pnombre, sent by one of the escort boats German, and of which impact coina the mechanism of the dive bars. We mmes immediately cape to the south to move away us in surface before rejoining Ajaccio, with the feeling to have accomplished our mission."
5 to July 6: German stratagem
But the appearances can be misleading and the night, all the submarine ones (and all the barges) are gray. The version of P.E. Cremer of this night in Mediterranean was all different one.
" The Allies had had me by two times, they would not have me a third one! And if, on the canals, I did not be in my element, it went some to be otherwise at sea. At the start of Chalon, I veillai to this that the barges have all, by far, the same appearance, but while leaving sufficiently differences for that a true sailor distinguishes the one that carried the submarine ones of the others. I knew that we had observed, as much show to those that we awaited this that they awaited!
Has it arrived to Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne, where no civil French did not be located, the Heer having done to evacuate the harbor and the approaches, I fis to transfer the panels of wedges elevated of the barges carrying the submarine ones on the others, as well as veneer them where were located the names of the boats, all while doing to correct the plate in charge of the sand, that was located there in abundance. I fis to leave the eight barges a lot of sand with six flirts that awaited us, knowing pertinemment that all this beautiful world was going to be been spotted. Dieter Thunau itself chargea personal to organize the supervision of the arm of the Rhne to the sea: if observers were spotted, it was necessary to leave them sufficiently quiet for that they can do this for what they were there. Of fact, a guetteur was noticed the afternoon preceding the passage of the convoy. Its men the first of all free laissrent to act, but the view perdirent. After the passage of the "sand convoy", they gaze at themselves to traverse the banks to big noise to prevent it from go out of nose of his hiding place, where that it be. Of go out it, as us the confirma the continuation of the events, this guetteur not put to see the eight barges carrying the submarine ones descend silent the Rhne, cut motor, only pushed by the current, an hour and half after the others
I preceded these eight barges on the S-157 of my friend Hans Trmmer, with that I had organized all the operation between Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne and Toulon. I doubted myself although the French were not going to send an armoured one to bombard the embouchure of the Rhne at the time of our passage, do or risk destroyers in broad daylight to attack us, but that they would do as me if I had been at places for them: they would use their u-boots! And as me, they were going to await the timely moment, a little before it sunrise, when tires it would reduce the reflex ones and the effectiveness of the crews of the attacked boats.
This is well this that itself produisit. We mmes all in work for please for them! Loads pyrotechniques firent to believe blows to the goal on the r-boots (in order to explain their relative inactivity) and my French colleagues we coulrent four barges to the torpedo. Arriving on these entrefaites with the S-157,I had even the pleasures to see it to send a torpedoes heading for a submarine one, but it plongea under the nose of our fish. Two of the MFP that participated in the escort encaissrent some shells of small calibre, but these boats had the skin as thick as the one of a rhinocros and that not the gna. As for the r-boots, their maniabilit their permit to escape the blows. All this small world, except the four sunk barges, rejoignit to the small morning the bay of Bandol, while loosening some expressions floating in his wake to do good measure.
While we occupied thus the French, the eight barges carrying the submarine ones awaited quietly in front of The Ciotat that the French set off again, before rejoining Toulon, under an important aerial cover deployed as early as to get up it day. They arrivrent at nine o'clock in the morning MEZ and disparurent immediately in the shelters to submarine. The French had flowed barges that did not be worth the torpedo that they had received!"
Allied side, the arrival of the eight submarine ones to Toulon was known before noon and if, to the etat-major, one sut to do against bad good fortune heart, sourness and the vexation increased while one descended in the hierarchy, as the crew of l' Iris eut to note it:
" We entrmes in the ajaccio harbor some minutes after the Minerve. It was then 19h00 and, in the crew, each hoped not to be guard to be able to go to celebrate our success to earth. On the Minerve,the state of mind was the even, the nature of the exchanges between the men of the two buildings during the placement maneuvers to quay not leaving no doubt. But the aussires did not be again all capeles when a 202 Peugeot apparut to the end of the quay. She stoppa to the height of our building and our boss of flotille, the Frigate Captain D, some goes out in trombe. For once, it seemed that it do not done n'et await to congratulate us.
But it not monta on board, fit to come all officiate them and the principal masters of the two submarine ones on the quay and exigea keeps it-to-you, before to begin yelling: " Band of c, you did to have yourself as blue! The Germans entertained you the last night as kids. While you played policemen and to the thieves, they did to pass the submarine ones to your beard and to this hour, they already there are installing the machines to Toulon! What's more, the Minerve brought back injureds and failed to jump on an expression and l' Iris cannot anymore dive. You are the shame of the National Navy! Since you are only incapable, everyone is recorded on board until new order. In two hours, I want a detailed report of the orders on my office, and you would benefit by to be credible, for there is places of persons in charge of the security to take to the arsenals of Tamatave and of Cayenne!"
It sets off again without a word of more. To midnight, the Pacha revint. All the crew awaited it with worry: " Good, it is himself a little calm. I think that it would have been cheated him also. There was straight out an of their better ones ordering of submarine ones. It had a revenge to take on the army of the air and on the Special Forces, I think that it had to prepare his blow since a week and this is we that pulled the bad number. For the admiral, so as their submarine new ones do not go out any Toulon, there is not peril. Now, it is necessary for them nonetheless not poorly of times to be operational and of here there, several things can produce themselves. At last, they are not anyway that eight. Good, fortunately that our mission were highly confidential. Officially, damages and consummate munitions are had to an unexpected engagement with coastal forces at the time of a training mission and of recognition on the coast varoise. Tomorrow morning, direction Bizerte for the repairs, and without leading."
After the war, we were authorized to paint the outline of four boats in paper on the kiosk of our building, little before it is not reformed, in to remember of this memorable action."
Appendix 43-3-1 (continued)
Wednesday March 24 obstinate Germans
The 24, in fine afternoon, the extent of damages more exactly was measured German side. The morning had happened before all to manage the urgencies, but, at the beginning of evening, a plan for the following days had been sketched, even if it did not satisfy P.E. Cremer:
" The day had been horrible, and a new bad one hunted the other. Between the requirements of the mine clearance experts, that were priority, the one of the Engineers, that were urgent, the one of the Navy, that were vital, and the one of the civil ones, that were disturbing if of adventure the assistant one of the Gauleiter returned, it fallut to split quickly. About 17 hours, everyone gathered to assess the situation and prepare the continuation.
The mine clearance experts talked first:
We neutralized the two non exploded bombs that were located to some meters of the canal, as well as the one that emerged from the sludge of a reach that had emptied itself after the rupture of his downhill lock. But there are some doubtless of others in sectors always in water. How will we continue?
The response did not be simple. The most convenient one was to empty the concerned reach, but that risked flooding again more the approaches, and especially to empty a huge portion of the canal of his water, this that, with the loss of the water because of the raid on Saturday, did not be conceivable.
To the turn of the lieutenant of the Engineers:
The new good one, if one can say, this is that it there has not nothing beyond repair. There where the bank collapsed, it is possible to reinforce it with pile plank, then to accumulate and compacter of the earth behind. For the locks, one is in the same position that more in upstream. Instead of some to rebuild an or two, one some will rebuild six or seven, and instead of replacing some harbors, one some will replace two tens. With regards to the bad new one, the list is on the other hand long. The first problem will be to arrive to work enough quickly. If one put the whole canal to dry, this would be doubtless easier. The second one, this the one of the manpower. It will be necessary terrassiers and masons, that one will have to go to look for with the civil ones, and doubtless far, for one will not be able to requisition big world in the corner, all the young ones having been sent to the arbeitsdienst [ STO]. And I do not want the Gauleiter to send me Polish prisoners or unfortunate one camp of Schirmeck, with the SS that go with! Too much boredoms in comparison with the profit! At last, it will be necessary to evacuate the wrecks. Impossible of bring heavy cranes, the banks would not withstand.
I divided his view point on the employment of the prisoners, they had not nothing to do here.
For the cranes, one will see with the naval work-site. The engineer Fleischmann arrived from Toulon and it will rejoin us in some minutes, it is doing to explain this that happened. Said me, you are the second one to want to empty the canal. How will do you for that without worsening the position, and how you will fill it again? Ah, Herr Fleischmann, you fall just at the right moment! What in think you?
I cannot to say some for you more than this than you already know, so than I will not be able to attain the submarine ones.
Done not be said me that you also would want as they be accessible on foot?
But yes, Herr Kapitnenleutnant
The lieutenant of the Engineers talked.
To empty properly the canal, this is not a problem. One will leave water to flow itself enough slowly bief by bief, until she empties herself in the Largue by the gaps of the bridge canal. And to fill the canal again, there is a solution if the nutrition pools are not full. That way, we will remake bricklaying and resettle the sluice gates.
And all that will last how much time?
Too early to say it today. All will depend on number of workers. At least a month, more probably two.
Well, Sirs. Therefore, one empties the canal starting now. Next, the mine clearance experts act. Tomorrow evening, I want the non exploded bombs to evacuate, for that the civil ones that I had on the back all day long can return at their place. Next, the Luftwaffe installs its guns correctly, even if it there has few luck that these crazy ones of French return. Friday, Herr Fleischmann and myself will go to see the boats closely. And I want that all the dead fish that begin feeling bad disappeared when I will pass! Next, priority to the repair of the first damages to restore the water stock. During this time, release of the wrecks while the cut to the blowtorch if it is necessary it, and, after, repair of the canal in the bombarded zone. "
Saturday March 27 Germanic Effectiveness (again)
The 27, even if it did not digest the loss of the half of his floats, P.E. Cremer could only to congratulate itself for rapidity with which the Wehrmacht had resumed the over, at least morally, after the events of the flowed week:
" The Engineers showed on this occasion all its capacities. With the assistance of civil businesses requisitioned as early as Monday, the reconstruction of the locks destroyed by the commando unit worked quickly. Besides, apart during the aerial attack, the work never had not stopped itself! The cement lack, that one feared to a moment, quickly was forgotten, the Altkirch cement industry, that did not turn anymore than to the slowed down since 1941 by lacks coal, having been supplied. Rather than to rebuild the sluice gates pools reservoirs to the identical one, the Engineers gathered all this that was located in the deposit of the Canal to Mulhouse and itself mit to remake a bricklaying nine adapted to this that it had recovered. " A true worthy do-it-yourself of the French, but with the serious German!" they said. April 10 at the latest, all this part would be finished. And as it had begun raining to towards, I didn't fear about later filling up of the canal.
In regards to the bridge canal, it was decided to rebuild two batteries in concrete to the place of the one that were collapsed and to link a type of goulotte in armed concrete to the intact extremities of the bridge canal. The inspector of navigation itself in charge of doing to evacuate the excavations by a corner contractor, and I it in remerciai. I was unaware of that it continued thus to do to disappear from the proofs!
For the bombarded part, the manpower was awaited on Mondays. A lot of terrassement first (craters to fill, banks to consolidate, discharge of the fallen earth in the canal), then reconstruction of the locks as in upstream. The harbors being all of the even models, their manufacture was in course to Mulhouse.
Remained this that was the most important one for me: the submarine ones. Seven of them were broken, I the oubliai. But this were on those that were damaged that the debate was the liveliest one with the engineer Fleischmann. For someone, we were in agreement: seen the extent of damages, they were lost, it was unthinkable climb a naval work-site on the spot. For others, that I estimated intact, he demonstrated, meter and plans to the hand, that they would necessitate very big repairs because of the deformation or weakening of the resistant partitions to the pressure or of others structure internal, even themselves they could follow travels for them on the canal. The final report was therefore of seven broken boats, six coudl be repaired in theory, but intransportables, and six that would necessitate a partial reconstruction in a specialized work-site. It did not remain for me therefore that hui t absolutely undamaged whales, of which the one that had escaped bombardment. In regards to the tugs, the position was less dramatic: two were lost, the shell ventre, but the others, once evacuated all the water that they had embarked, should be able to set off again. I would dispose therefore of 13 tugs for 14 submarine ones (eight intact ones and six damaged ones), this that would facilitate me life, but it was lean as consolation.
This Saturday 27, I invited the Engineers and Luftwaffe officers to diner with me to the inn The head of Deer. Dieter Thunau, confirmed in his role of liaison officer between the Heer and the Navy, was also with us. The employer seemed a little nervous, it m'expliqua me that it was had to the fatigue linked to the activity addition since a week, with all the military officers to serve. The conversation porta all naturally on the length of our "stay". The Riesling helping, everyone was optimist: one talked about May 15, of the 1er June to the worse one. To all useful ends, I had done to prepare by Franz Klein of the detailed instructions for the four whales that were located before the cut of Dannemarie and their two tugs, so that they return to Strasburg and rejoin Chalon by another itinerary, well longer. If we set off again enough early, they would finish the trip with us.
Dieter Thunau we raconta discovered them done alongside the works of the Groove, alas gruesome mostly, to the point that it was seriously question to lay out a cemetery to give a decent burial to the soldiers of the two camps of the preceding war, of which remain them were rediscovered every day. Visibly well informed, it us expliqua also as the call to denunciation launched by the Gauleiter not nothing had given, except some neighborhood vengeancees without interest. For him, those that had done to jump the canal had not done their preparations side Alsatian, but in the Territory of Belfort, not passing in Alsace that to commit their sabotage, taking advantage thus unity lack between the administrations, civil or military officers, of alsace and of France occupied. I myself rappelai the words of the colonel of Belfort, that repeated that it never would act in Alsatian territory. Anyway, the Gauleiter Wagner was does it appear furious and the Alsatian ones not steps were going to delay itself some general idea. I am said that more quickly we would have left, better that would be worth."
Sunday March 28 Spring
The 28, first springs Sunday, Georges Hartmann took the train for Dannemarie with his spouse and their small boy. It went of course to see his brother for an innocent family meeting.
Because of the military crowd of the last days, Alphonse had to hire additional personnel, and it was several interrupted times during the lunch to regulate problems to the cooking or in the service. It is only about 16 hours that it put to take his brother to leaves for him to talk about the last events: " I have not a lot of times, I go to the essential one. Last night, I had German officers and I was able to seize some words. For our bridge, officially, this is an accident, even if I am persuaded that at least an of our loads exploded. With the limbered one up one that they collected to Valdieu while they looked at all elsewhere, then bombardment, I suppose that that arranges them well. To leaves that, they are jammed there until the end May " It not put some to say more, being again called in the room.
The two families left about 18 hours, without having talked about war, or almost. The alone evoked episode was the one of the aerial alarm that had resounded to Mulhouse on Tuesdays. Herr Doktor Graunitz had precipitated itself in the antiaircraft shelter as early as the first siren blow, this that had been worth for him ironic remarks from its German colleagues, finding his behavior " unexpected from a hero of Tannenberg". He said that it himself there had returned the first one "to verify the manner in which the installation of the patients in the shelter would be done ", this that the other firent pretence to believe German too much ears led by there for that of the more delicate questions are approached, the differences between the Alsatian one and the Hochdeutsch not assuring a sufficient discretion.
While descending train to Mulhouse, Georges was surprised by the presence in number of the different police forces of the Reich, to start with the one of which the members carried long leather coats. It eut more big evil to hide his worry to his woman.
For the commando unit of Michel Fabre, this Sunday marqua the end of the bcheronnage, even if the eight men kept chop and axes to go to Saint-Claude the next day 29. These tools avoided all question on their profession and suffisaient to explain their presence in these regions of forests. To Saint-Claude, they left their axes and itself rpartirent by two or three in the tortillard that went to lyon-perrache, where they firent stop in the same hotel that fifteen days earlier. Of there, they had to leave for Carcassonne, where a new mission awaited them, for they were in France, they there remained! The Boss Martinez rejoiced at to review his country, but Rock Bilger (of which the promotion to the rank of sergent had been confirmed) and Franois Sifert henceforth were prayed of not more to speak than in French, while doing moreover attention to their accent. But while the commando unit moved away itself, the stick cut down itself on the region of its first exploits.
Monday March 29, Monday April 5: the stick
The nightmare of the inhabitants of the district of Dannemarie and valley of the Drops commena at six o'clock in the morning March 29, when the mayors of the towns, nevertheless designated for their sympathy indeed their allegiance to the system nazi were awakened without consideration by the Gestapo. The signed grade of the Gauleiter that was put back for them enunciated the menu of the rjouissances:
" All the movements outside of those necessary for the work henceforth are forbidden to the inhabitants of the district of Dannemarie and to those of the valley of the Drops. In an emergency, exclusively of medical nature or linked to the death of a member of the family, a valid Ausweis for an alone travels will be delivered by police authorities.
Every man or woman of which the work is situated outside of the commune of his residence will have to do to establish an Ausweis by the city hall, countersigned by the one of the city hall of his work place. The persons of which the work drives them to move itself to several places (doctors, employed transportations) will do to establish their Ausweis by police authorities."
But the worse one figured in the bottom of the grade:
" All the families of which a member (father, mother, brother, sister, cousin) is located currently outside of the territory of the Reich or of its allies see themselves fallen of the German nationality for 5 years. It some is of even for all the one of which a member currently is committed to the rehabilitation camp by the work of Schirmeck. All these persons have access to 48 hours to do their luggage, limited to 30 kg by individual. They will have to abandon all their other possessions, that come back to the Reich, and will be moved in Saxe and in Silsie, where they will have the possibility to rediscover their honor of citizen of the Reich while working to the placement in value of these regions. The mayors are loaded with application of this disposal and held for personal persons in charge in case of manquement.
Heil Hitler!
Robert Wagner, Gauleiter"
During this time, the troop locked the roads and the ways taking to concerned every town, where the trains, when there was a train station, did not stop themselves more. The persons inhabitant to the exterior one curled zone and that attempted there to penetrate were repressed. All escape possibility towards Switzerland was forbidden and alone some families of the border towns parvinrent to escape. The stick had cut down itself heavily, and Wagner had again some blows some reserves, destined this time to the body of the Alsatian ones.
Two days later, on Wednesdays March 31, several trains partirent of the train stations of Dannemarie and of altkirch towards the regions brumeuses situated to the confine of the Poland. Village solidarity joua nevertheless, in a certain measure. When these families (or less their members survivors) revinrent after having been liberated by the Red army (to that they had had well evil to explain their position), they intact retrouvrent most of the although they had left behind they. The most, for their cattle and their poultries were dead during their absence, following an epidemic that had saved the animals of the families that had not been moved
The measures of the Gauleiter not firent the matter of Peter Cremer.
" On Mondays March 28 to in the morning, the whole work-site of discount in condition to the canal itself retrouva more or less paralyzed. The disposals of the Gauleiter prevented the civil workers to come to work, and the materials, notably the cement and the sand, of us to arrive. Nevertheless, the Allies did not bother us hardly: since the passage of a recognition airplane some hours after bombardment, no device enemy did not fly across anymore the canal and alone warn them resulted from identification errors.
The Genius protesta by the hierarchic way against brought discomfort to its works and an extremely dry grade was addressed to the Gauleiter by the General Tscherning, of Strasburg. The Gauleiter, doubtless strong of its personal relations with the Fhrer, eut the composure to reply that the army had only to assume the consequences of its own manquements. It is not astonishing in these conditions that the general in question took part in the Anti-hitlerian movement that began being born in the army, and this despite his placement to the retirement in July.
This not that over the weekend that the work reprit almost normally, but the new brought restrictions to the circulation the following week we causrent again of boredoms."
In fact, on Mondays April 5, a new proclamation of the Gauleiter was posted, this time as a whole alsace:
"Alsatian!
For your security, the movements outside of the commune of the residence henceforth are limited to those strictly necessary to the economical activity of production, to the medical needs and to the relations with the near family. An Ausweis will have to be presented to all demand of police authorities, this document specifying, according to the position of each, which are the movements that are authorized for him. It will belong to the city halls and to police authorities to deliver these Ausweis, according to precise methods that were communicated for them. These disposals cancel the one, more restrictive, being able to have been taken in certain localities.
These measures do not apply to the born persons in the territory of the Reich before the 1er September 1939, for which ones the disposals currently in force continue to apply. ()
Robert Wagner, Gauleiter"
As early as in the morning of April 5, tails gaze at themselves to form itself and to lengthen itself in front of the city halls, the former French police force and other commissionerships, the "precise methods" occupying about thirty typed orderlies, with the necessity of a recourse to "superior authority" in case of difficulty. This not that at the end of the week that Georges Hartmann trouva the time to be going to look for his Ausweis, that was delivered for him immediately for movements without restriction, because of his profession of doctor. Graunitz, as a citizen German, escaped of course to this measure.
10 to April 30 The whims of the forecast
Towards April 10, the time passa frankly to the beautiful one, the temperature not delaying attaining levels habitually met in summer, and rain itself more and more rare fit. The peasants feared a scorching summer, after a soft winter and not very watered. Peter Cremer grieved itself: " April 15, while the locks destroyed by the commando unit at last were repaired (with a week of delay) and that the nutrition pools were again in state to the even dates, rain cessa completely. Fifteen days earlier, we had soaked, and now that she would have been for us useful, water did to await itself! In front of this position, I j'ordonnai to the boats being located before Dannemarie, that could not besides not yet we to rejoin, the bridge canal being far of completely to be repaired, of done u-turn and to be going to await us to Chalon."
Despite all, the water level climbed, but very slowly, in the parties put back in condition to the canal, different streams supplying the division bief. April 24, the troops of the Genius attaqurent seriously the repair of the section damaged by bombardment, all while following the repairing of the Groove. Remove the wrecks had not non more easy summer, despite the dbrouillardise of the sailors and engineer Fleischmann, relates Cremer:
" The first point to regulate was the one of the cutting of the carcasses of the Typ II, that it was necessary to reduce to pieces of the more some tons. Find the workers for that was paradoxically less difficult that for the terrassiers. The mechanics factories of Mulhouse, that did not turn to their normal capacity, we the fournirent thanks to the demands. If, to the, beginning, that alla enough quickly, doubtless because these Alsatian ones were happy to to destroy German manufactures, the rhythm slows down quickly. The rcriminations concerning the work in mud or the collapse risks of the banks maybe were justified, but they especially had understood that more they led, less that arranged us. Next, it fallut to release canal the cut sheet metal. The alone simple solution was to resort to to provided cranes of lectro-aimants, but for that and to move these cranes alongside the canal, it was necessary powerful generating sets. We finmes by to find two cranes climbed on rails in the vicinity of Mulhouse, that it fallut to dismantle, and for which ones of the way sections steel-tipped last to be laid out on the way of halage. All that prit of the time, a lot too much times."
The bridge canal of Dannemarie now was repaired, but the corresponding bief remained at dry. P.E. Cremer demanda to the Genius that it is filled fastest possible, so that the two intact submarine ones that rested on the bottom of the canal can set off again in the other feels and go to Chalon as soon as possible. The lieutenant of the Genius him demanda " just some days, the time to be going to look for Hercules to divert a river."
Maintain the morale of the sailors did not be non easier. For lack of anything more better, Cremer autorisa of the permissions by rumble, always hoping to be able to set off again before fine May, the sky going to end up to bring again rain.
1er May to June 13 Patience and times length
The Saturday 1er May, the release of the wrecks continued, slowly, as well as the repairs of the bombarded section. The nutrition groove of the canal was again in service, but his debit was well weak facing the needs. Cremer: " The problem of the water level in the canal always remained entire. It was necessary about 2,30 m and one was only to 50 or 60 cm in the repaired party, without even to talk about the one that did not be it not yet. To this rhythm, it would be necessary to await the month of July to the better to be able to set off again. The Genius had left me to glimpse a solution, but I do not always see nothing to come."
On Thursdays May 6, the lieutenant of the Genius was at last return, without Hercules It demanda immediately to see P.E. Cremer:
" It commena by to put a big cheese ball of Holland on the table, while being said me: " To improve the ordinary one, from my colleagues of over there, thanks to that one goes itself some go out." Taken aback, I him demandai to explain.
As let us lack us water coming from in top, one will use water coming from down below!
While digging wells? With Holland drills?
No, one never would have had enough water. But while pumping the water of the rivers neighbor canal. One already uses the water of the Drops, of which one not nothing will be able to pull of more. But it remains us the ill and especially the Doubs!
But it will be necessary kilometers of pipes!
Why? One installs to every lock between the high point and the Doubs a pump that the Dutch one use habitually for their polders and as that, one does to climb back up water. Ditto side of the ill.
You are sure that that will walk? There will be enough water in the rivers?
Yes! In theory, in 48 hours, one will have filled the superior biefs of the canal. Even if one puts a week because one cannot nonetheless to drain the Doubs, the matter is regulated. And on the other side, it will be necessary almost it same delay for the bief where the two submarine ones are at the dry one. And next, when the whole canal will be repaired, one will fill the parties that it was necessary to drain same manner.
And your pumps, you pull them leg how? You have also amen the mills to wind?
One sees that that goes better, you recommence to joke. Tomorrow morning, a train with a dozen pumps arrives some parks Dannemarie, where it will be awaited by equipped trucks of generating sets. With that, one would have at last itself some go out.
Effectively, the next day May 7, the pumps arrivrent. And on Mondays 10, pumping began between the ill and the bief of Dannemarie. The Genius had not been mistaken, at the end of the week, the water level had become sufficient on this portion of the canal. No administrative difficulty not vint to impede pumping. The Saturday 15, the Genius dplaa pump them to fill the division bief while sending for the water of the Doubs. To the end of a new week, the bombarded party of the canal henceforth being repaired, the long section to dry of the Alsatian side, downstream stairway of Valdieu, put she also to be put in water. At the same time, the submarine ones were repositionns on their frameworks, the tugs put back in state and, June 8, we were ready to set off again.
I had done to last the also permissions a long time as possible, and the morale had returned, even if I had lost the half of my floats. The admiral Doenitz, that I had held informed almost daily, me fit to know that my efforts had been appreciated and that it regretted of not to be able to go on the spot, being more and more occupied by the conduit of the body of the operations of the Kriegsmarine."
On Tuesdays June 9, the submarine reprirent slowly their progression towards the Mediterranean. But the quantity of available water was again weak, and Montbliard was attained only the Saturday June 13. It is true that P.E. Cremer took a maximum of precautions, equipment having suffered from bombardment and long inaction period, even if his not consisting of convoy more than ten submarine ones and eleven tugs. This time, the Heer preceded the movement, keeping every section of the canal, lock or bridge at least 24 hours in advance. And all the evenings, the broadcasting station of the network "iron Lion" gave the position of the convoy to Algiers.
14 to June 24 at last the Sane!
On Sundays June 14, Georges Hartmann revint with his woman and his son to see his brother, to Dannemarie. The inn was practically empty, alone some rare Alsatian customers occupying the room. The family Hartmann put to converse freely:
Says therefore, you did matters, the latter weeks, with all these Germans!
Yes and no, they negotiated the tariffs, and i must hire world. Of more, they emptied my stock of Riesling, and I had a crazy evil to some to rediscover.
Always to complain, as the peasants, this is well known in your corporate body! Says me, why did you have problems to buy wine?
Oh, even for me, this is not very clear. The winegrower with that I bought it, to Bennwihr, related me that its vines, that it nevertheless had transplanted in 1932 and that gave good wine, had been pulled out on decision of the Germans for "improvement of the quality" and that it was incapable to sell to me although this be before it sleep it off 1944. It added that it was without resources, in front of, with its two sons, to be going to work in the exploitation of a neighbor, of which the vines had not been touched.
And this is with the neighbor that you bought your wine?
You laugh? Has a member of the Party? When my habitual supplier will completely be mown down, this dear neighbor will repurchase him its vines to base price "for him to return service". If the war does not arrange itself before, of course Finally, I bought my Riesling in another town of the vineyard. But it is not so good. This is of the 1940, a year to forget!
And that some say the customers?
With all the circulation restrictions, I not in have almost more. Those that remain are too buddies with the Nazis, when they are not nazis themselves, for that I appreciate them.
At last, our big fish are nonetheless remained almost three months in roads.
Yes, and without their pumps, they there still remained at least also a long time. The guys of the army of the air did a beautiful work
You read the communiqu of the Gauleiter? "These French that, happy nos to abandon the alsace in June 1940 while leaving behind them of the heaps of ruins, in a cowardly ways murdered of the civil Alsatian one." At last, one knows their music Nothing to signal, for the bridge canal?
THE INSPECTOR of navigation always declared that it was a chance accident when the Germans were in the parts. But, once, while we were alone, it was said me in Alsatian, while looking at me right in the eyes, that a well worse accident could have arrived to the unconscious ones that had done that. Has good entendeur You continuous always to send pieces of information by Switzerland?
Yes, but it not himself big pass thing to likely Mulhouse to interest our friends.
And side nutrition, this is not too hard?
One finds of less in less than things on the markets, and all the patients of the hospital complain. There is only those of the country that did not begin slimming. When to Graunitz, it gladdens himself ouvertement of the position!
Good, as at our place there is again to eat, you will not return the empty hands.
Georges Hartmann sets off again at his place in fine afternoon. Eggs, a chicken, a sausage and cherries outfitted the bottom of his bag as well as the one of his spouse. As all an each, it bypassed the last disposals taken by the Gauleiter, that hoped that starved, the Alsatian ones were going to show themselves more supple. Checked to the gone out of the train station, they were not worried, the municipal policeman greeting them respectful of a " Guten Abend, Herr und Frau Doktor " without searching them.
The following week, the German convoy crosses Besanon. The delicate passage of the situated lock to the gone out of the tunnel of the Citadel, in a squeezed turn, prit all day long. Then this was Dle, Saint-Jean de Losne and Verdun on the Doubs, last step before Chalon-on-Sane, that was attained June 24, and no special event not having come to disrupt his progression, except incidents minors and difficulties linked to the water lack to certain places. The pumps had returned in Holland, once past Montbliard. The submarine ones always were accompanied by the 5me Infantry regiment of replacement of Mulhouse and by a company of Flak of the Luftwaffe. And it was henceforth the network "Brandy" that informed Algiers of the progression of the convoy.
Nemo-III or not nemo-III ?
Allied side, following the nemo-ii success, the tat-major put itself serious questions on a new destined operation to destroy the submarine survivors. The appetite coming while eating, as this good knew, the locking of the convoy during some weeks, that was the initial objective, seemed henceforth well too modest, and the destruction of the half of the floats of submarine ones appeared as a first step, that called the complete suppression. But where and how to hit again and to which opposition it was necessary to expect, now that the surprise effect had not anymore no luck to play?
The first idea was an aerial new bombardment of the canal, this time to Saint-Jean de Losne, already envisaged target for nemo-ii. But the potential profit of such a bombardment was only well weak, all to the more a delay of two weeks in the progression of the convoy, the Germans having shown their know-how in the matter of put back in condition to the locks. Saint-Jean de Losne was excluded, the target the more logic became Chalon, where, knew one, a transbordement of the submarine ones on regular customers would take place, in the naval work-site situated Schneider on the left shore of the Sane, to the Small creusot. But a bombardment down with altitude of the naval work-site this time would have been suicidal, the Flak accompanying the convoy, and there is no doubt that she would be deployed to the approaches of the naval work-site during the length of the transbordement. Someone suggra to ask the RAF to divert on Chalon some airplanes of a massive new raid foreseen on the Creusot, but the Defense Counsel National itself there opposa, night bombardments of the English, notoriously imprecise, risking doing many civil victims, all while spoiling the assigned target.
An intervention of the Resistance to Chalon during the transbordement seemed to be a more interesting track, so much than the network "Brandy" was well structured. But the perspective to have to confront at least the equivalent one of a regiment of the Wehrmacht in a restricted space fit to reject all operation of this nature. As for to attack the convoy once on the Sane or the Rhne, this did not be the penalty of there to think, for, even with heavy machine guns or mortars, there was only very few luck to succeed in a tangible result there where an ambush could have brought up.
There remained a last attack possibility: the trip between the opening in the Mediterranean, to Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne, and Toulon. There, it was the matter of the National Navy, that again had not intervened in this history. The sailors gaze at themselves therefore seriously to student an operation, knowing that it was necessary to expect that the regular customers carrying the submarine ones seriously are escorted by the good ones to all to do coastal of the Kriegsmarine, flirts of well armed expressions (r-boots). Of more, a solid aerial cover was evidently to foresee.
June 25 to July 1st : Against bad fortune
Once arrived to Chalon, the German eurent to make several decision delicate about the transfer towards Toulon. The peter-erich testimony Cremer is revealing of the uncertainties reigning at this point in time:
" Has our big surprised one, it not us arriva more nothing notable between Valdieu and Chalon once we fmes at last set off again. At first, I took the most extreme precautions, slowing down voluntarily maneuver them to avoid at least all incident of our does. But nothing not itself produisit. The Heer accompanied us and we preceded: every evening, the steps of the next day and surlendemain were prepared, the sensitive points to oversee designated and the soldiers set themselves up, while of others we accompanied, in truck, on the way of halage or the roads following the canal and the Doubs. Which damage that this device was not set up as early as the departure! But, no more regrets, the essential one now was to arrive to voucher lay with this that remained boats.
Has Chalon, where the regiment of the Heer had occupied the naval work-site as well as the river harbor, and prevented thus all undesirable one to approach, a disappointment awaited us, but she was largely compensated by an interesting timeliness. To our arrival, we fmes welcome by three personages: a German of the administrative services of occupation, a civil French to the particularly obsequious air, and a French other that visibly past more time in the workshops that in the offices. My compatriot m'expliqua me that because of our delay, it had not been able to keep the barges and the necessary tugs for bring our submarine ones to Toulon. To the place, it proposed me self-propelled boats of the Rhne, enough neighbors of those used on the Rhine, but it not some had that eight on the spot, the others being blocked to the other boils Rhne "because of the fuel lack." The French bureaucrat agreed boss, for lack of be able to confirm in German the declarations of his counterpart. That did not arrange me of course, for I had no craving to make moldy here, when Klaus Fleischmann, that at length had discussed his side with the French other, m'annona me that there was strong luck for that the six submarine ones that had undergone comparatively light damages can be put back in state here. I myself rappelai then the submarine French of which the manufacture had been interrupted and that I had glimpsed the preceding fall.
When I demandai to the French bureaucrat where were the bargemen that were going to take these boats, its responses were one cannot anymore evasive. Visibly, I had inherited of these barges, of which it knew only to do, because they had been confiscated to their owners, that did not have to be completely same edge that the government Laval. My men me firent besides a report little enthusiast on the state of these boats, dirty, rusted and stripped of all equipment outside of those absolutely essential. Even the sleeping cars had not anymore matelas! In front of this position, I demandai anyway to my mechanics to verify and to put back in state if necessary the motors and the different apparaux. Next, my men essayrent the barges on the Sane until to have them well in hand. As one was in summer, I not myself m'inquitai too current downstreamer, on the Rhne. It is only after the load of the submarine put to begin.
Two days before setting off again, eight big others barges entrrent in the harbor of Chalon. The French official vint immediately to see me, the very happy air of him: " I did you to climb back up these boats since Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne. Thanks to my relations, I ended up to obtain enough gazole, I hope that they you will be useful." What did it hope on my part? Thanks? A tip? My six clops were again far to be repaired, Klaus Fleischmann talking about again several weeks, despite the arrival of Toulon of several teams of German specialists that hung around to await us. These additional barges, in so bad state as the preceding ones, would not serve me to nothing for the moment. I again was cursing when Franz Klein vint to take stock of the threats that awaited us on the remainder of the trip to the Mediterranean, as well as on the taken disposals to oppose them. But once arrived to the sea, it would be necessary again to succeed in Toulon. This is at this point in time that I began thinking that the eight garbage cans floating that had just arrived we could be useful strong!"
2 to July 5: Chalon Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne, next to last step
It did not be anymore possible for P.E. Cremer to continue to lose boats, and the placement in service of the Typ ii-e was more and more urgent. It chooses therefore to leave with the eight intact shells, leaves to organize a second transfer between Chalon and Toulon some weeks later for the six others.
Well heard, the descent of the Rhne was meticulous prepared. The measures to avoid all bad surprised one were impressive. First of all, the small tugs that had served on the canals were modified: their propellor to allow for them to go more quickly (they had not anymore load to pull) and each was armed of two heavy machine guns to use compared escort. All the locations propices to an ambush were spotted by Franz Klein and Dieter Thunau and had to be occupied by the troop the necessary time. At the time of the crossing of the big cities as Mcon, Valence and of course Lyon, all circulation would be forbidden on the quays, pedestrians understand. Ditto on the all the bridges crossing the river, even those of iron way. For more of precautions, two Fieseler Storch were going to fly across while taking turns the approaches of the river down with altitude forward of the convoy, in order to spot all abnormality. Even the fishermen to the line were going to be been evicted! The three points of foreseen stops (Lyon, just before the confluence with the Rhne, Valence, downstream city, and Avignon) harshly would be kept by the troops in garrison on the spot, and, side of the river, destined nets to stop eventual expressions bringing down the current would be set up. A battalion of the 5me Infantry regiment of Replacement, ready to intervene at any moment, would use movable force. Besides, it did not be anymore of the all question than this regiment go in Russia. Once arrived with the submarine ones by the Mediterranean, it there would remain to reinforce the lean forces being located already on the spot, in the less and less absurd hypothesis of a disembarkation enemy in the south of France.
July 2, the sixteen barges partirent of Chalon. The Kriegsmarine had not given itself the penalty to repaint them in the statutory and single colors the house of the German Navy showed for that they sailed. It was necessary a comparatively exercised eye to distinguish the one that transported a submarine one of the eight others. The coutille panels in curved sheet metal had been put by over the submarine ones and set up to vertical boards extending up the hiloires of wedges. The empty barges had been ballasted to sink itself in water almost as much as the one carrying the submarine ones and, at least by far, it was impossible to distinguish them of one another. These disposals had for goal, the first ones, to protect the shells of the submarine ones of the shooting of weapons of small calibre or lances of grenades, the seconds, that to divide by two the risk of a blow to the goal.
It not fallut that three days to rejoin Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne of the Rhne, that narrowly was checked by the Heer little before the arrival of the convoy.
During the trip, despite the taken measures, the convoy put to be observed several times in of good conditions, notably to Lyon where, of his window of the Saint-Vincent quay, a former neighborhood master of the National Navy do not n'eut no evil to distinguish the barges transporting the submarine ones of the others, and even to note their names and numbers. Information not tarda to be transmitted to that of right. On the other hand, person not put to attempt the least offensive action during the whole trip on the Sane and the Rhne or to the arrival to Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne. The night, the boats were too well kept; the day, the lack of proportion between the means of the Resistance and those of the Germans was really too important. Even if this position was not going to delay changing
5 to July 6: Welcome committee in Mediterranean
Once known the new one departure of the convoy, the submarine Monge traversa the Mediterranean to land two men on the coast camarguaise in the night of the 4 to July 5, before to get up it Moon. They had for mission to signal the passage of the convoy in the arm of the Rhne going Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne to the sea. Nevertheless got used to the missions of this type, the order of the Monge was not reassured. The funds were near dangerous of the quille of his submarine one, preventing all dived precipitated and the zone was patrolled in permanence by the Germans. The record of the two men were simple: to be anxious itself the listens radio to the advisable hours, observe discreetly and transmit the alarm message at the time of the passage. But by over all, an imperative one: not to do to take itself! They trouvrent a suitable location, where shrubs assured a relative discretion, and itself there enterrrent literally, hoping not to have to await too a long time.
The day of the 5 was marked by the repeated passage of German patrols, visibly of routine, but the 6, soldiers in Feldgrau s'installrent itself alongside the river. Moreover, several small war boats remontrent the arm of the Rhne. All indicated therefore that the gone out of the submarine ones on their barges with escorts for them was for soon, so much more than the time was beautiful and the moderate wind. An hour before it sunset, eight barges accompanied by six flirts of expressions (r-boots) passrent in front of the observation post improvised, motors to the slowed down. The name or the number of someone purent to be deciphered, they corresponded to those that figured on the transmitted list to the Monge by the Pieces of information. And, as the outline of the barges showed clearly the surlvation of the panels of wedges, more no doubt was allowed: the submarine ones went out! The one of the two men transmit with his transmitting radio to short reach the very brief encoded message announcing the gone out. To the third attempt, the reception accused suited was returned. It did not remain anymore to the duet than to make to forget itself, his recuperation being foreseen for the night of the next day.
The German ones thus announced boats were awaited.
The National Navy had not put a long time to define his welcome committee, in the greatest secrecy. Several parameters had been taken into account: the probable trip between Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne and Toulon, his length and the escort that the Kriegsmarine could furnish. For the first point, seen the employed boats, the trip would follow doubtless the coast to the most near, this that allowed for them to be able to take refuge itself in a harbor as Blackcurrant or fastest possible Sanary in case of problem. Next, to 7 or 8 knots, the estimated length of the transfer would be of a good ten of hours. As for the escort, she would limit herself probably to flirts of expressions (r-boots) or disembarkation barges (Marinefhrprahm, MFP), of which the armament (a 88 mm, a 37 mm and of the 20 mm) could some to do the opposing fearsome for light unities or airplanes. But as the Moon did not raise itself that after the end of the night, a night transfer was well more conceivable than a day operation, obscurity compensating widely in this case the absence of cover aerial.
To attack this convoy, it did not be question to send big surface unities, that would have been detected a long time in advance by the station radar of the agay Kriegsmarine or the aerial patrols carried out by the KG 26 from the lands of the Crau. Light unities would not have the necessary power. Remained a weapon: the submarine ones.
The departure idea was simple: one of the submersible ones would spot the convoy more near possible of his departure point, would follow it next and the would attack from the wide one. The convoy would look for then doubtless to take refuge itself in a harbor, in front of which a submarine other would await it and would do him his matter, while taking keeps to the weak tonnage of the barges carrying the submarine ones. For the envisaged ambush, the better zone was the one understood between Blackcurrant and Bandol, where the funds well rather deep to allow the submarine ones to operate in of good conditions. Well heard, it fallut equally to assure itself that there was not field of expressions bothering in the parts, this that was verified. The Minerve was chosen to detect and follow the convoy, then to attack it to proximity of the zone where l' Iris would await it. The second of l' Iris , the Vessel sign Lagane, remembers particularly well of this night of the 5 to July 6 1943:
" At the beginning of night, we did surface to about 10 thousand of the coast, to refill the battery, and we to put to the listens radio. Towards 20h00 GMT, we emes the confirmation that our objective had put itself in road. The Minerve the repra for the first time before the twilight while it crossed the gulf of Fos, then the surveilla to the hydrophones until the island Riou, the accompanying from afar in alternating walks it in dived and in surface to maintain the battery at the level of maximum load. From there, after a last one and brief contact radio emitted little before The Ciotat to confirm that the convoy did henceforth road towards the Embiez and that what's more of the barges, it included about eight escort buildings, the Minerve itself mit in his wake to six or seven knots, in dived. The night was absolutely black and, kiosk of our building, alone the stars were visible. Arrived to the height of the point of the Deffend, the Minerve s'carta itself somewhat towards the wide one, before of done surface and, to 3 h 25 very precisely, she envoya a shell lighting up above the convoy. We awaited it since some time, and we estimated then the convoy to 3 or 4 thousand to the south-south one-is of our own position. The sarabande was going to be able to begin, so much more than it sunrise would produce itself three quarters of hour later and than the boats enemies would see themselves at last! The German virrent on bbord, taking a northeastern cape, visibly to look for a shelter to Bandol or to Sanary, pourchasss by the Minerve that sent to them shells of his canon of 75, the departure of the invisible remaining blows since we used special powder for fights night. The German escort retorted to the aveuglette, but the doubt was not allowed, it was canons of 88 that thundered. The escort had therefore summer reinforced by MFP, doubtless while passing in front of The Ciotat, and it was necessary all in all to avoid their blows that would have been fatal! It was now to us to intervene, first of all with our twinning of 40 mm that had replaced the 75 of origin, to separate the escort boats being located of our side. At least a flirt was thus touched, since we vmes the flash of an of explosion followed by a fire beginning. It s'carta himself without retorting, we leaving the free field, and, in the glimmer preceding the day, we pmes to send our torpedo on the barges, of which four firent wipes, flowing each a boat enemy. Pull on the barges to the canon would not have served to big thing; the shell of the submarine ones that they transported would have played the role of a huge one well difficult flotteur to pierce. But it fallut next dive in catastrophe, a star launches torpedo rushing on us to big speed. Once this past threat, we refmes surface, to see the convoy to look for refuge in the bay of Bandol, where would not risk being going to follow it, the funds being insufficient. This is while we encaissmes a shell of 37 mm, coming from west, again in the pnombre, sent by one of the escort boats German, and of which impact coina the mechanism of the dive bars. We mmes immediately cape to the south to move away us in surface before rejoining Ajaccio, with the feeling to have accomplished our mission."
5 to July 6: German stratagem
But the appearances can be misleading and the night, all the submarine ones (and all the barges) are gray. The version of P.E. Cremer of this night in Mediterranean was all different one.
" The Allies had had me by two times, they would not have me a third one! And if, on the canals, I did not be in my element, it went some to be otherwise at sea. At the start of Chalon, I veillai to this that the barges have all, by far, the same appearance, but while leaving sufficiently differences for that a true sailor distinguishes the one that carried the submarine ones of the others. I knew that we had observed, as much show to those that we awaited this that they awaited!
Has it arrived to Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne, where no civil French did not be located, the Heer having done to evacuate the harbor and the approaches, I fis to transfer the panels of wedges elevated of the barges carrying the submarine ones on the others, as well as veneer them where were located the names of the boats, all while doing to correct the plate in charge of the sand, that was located there in abundance. I fis to leave the eight barges a lot of sand with six flirts that awaited us, knowing pertinemment that all this beautiful world was going to be been spotted. Dieter Thunau itself chargea personal to organize the supervision of the arm of the Rhne to the sea: if observers were spotted, it was necessary to leave them sufficiently quiet for that they can do this for what they were there. Of fact, a guetteur was noticed the afternoon preceding the passage of the convoy. Its men the first of all free laissrent to act, but the view perdirent. After the passage of the "sand convoy", they gaze at themselves to traverse the banks to big noise to prevent it from go out of nose of his hiding place, where that it be. Of go out it, as us the confirma the continuation of the events, this guetteur not put to see the eight barges carrying the submarine ones descend silent the Rhne, cut motor, only pushed by the current, an hour and half after the others
I preceded these eight barges on the S-157 of my friend Hans Trmmer, with that I had organized all the operation between Port-Saint-Louis du Rhne and Toulon. I doubted myself although the French were not going to send an armoured one to bombard the embouchure of the Rhne at the time of our passage, do or risk destroyers in broad daylight to attack us, but that they would do as me if I had been at places for them: they would use their u-boots! And as me, they were going to await the timely moment, a little before it sunrise, when tires it would reduce the reflex ones and the effectiveness of the crews of the attacked boats.
This is well this that itself produisit. We mmes all in work for please for them! Loads pyrotechniques firent to believe blows to the goal on the r-boots (in order to explain their relative inactivity) and my French colleagues we coulrent four barges to the torpedo. Arriving on these entrefaites with the S-157,I had even the pleasures to see it to send a torpedoes heading for a submarine one, but it plongea under the nose of our fish. Two of the MFP that participated in the escort encaissrent some shells of small calibre, but these boats had the skin as thick as the one of a rhinocros and that not the gna. As for the r-boots, their maniabilit their permit to escape the blows. All this small world, except the four sunk barges, rejoignit to the small morning the bay of Bandol, while loosening some expressions floating in his wake to do good measure.
While we occupied thus the French, the eight barges carrying the submarine ones awaited quietly in front of The Ciotat that the French set off again, before rejoining Toulon, under an important aerial cover deployed as early as to get up it day. They arrivrent at nine o'clock in the morning MEZ and disparurent immediately in the shelters to submarine. The French had flowed barges that did not be worth the torpedo that they had received!"
Allied side, the arrival of the eight submarine ones to Toulon was known before noon and if, to the etat-major, one sut to do against bad good fortune heart, sourness and the vexation increased while one descended in the hierarchy, as the crew of l' Iris eut to note it:
" We entrmes in the ajaccio harbor some minutes after the Minerve. It was then 19h00 and, in the crew, each hoped not to be guard to be able to go to celebrate our success to earth. On the Minerve,the state of mind was the even, the nature of the exchanges between the men of the two buildings during the placement maneuvers to quay not leaving no doubt. But the aussires did not be again all capeles when a 202 Peugeot apparut to the end of the quay. She stoppa to the height of our building and our boss of flotille, the Frigate Captain D, some goes out in trombe. For once, it seemed that it do not done n'et await to congratulate us.
But it not monta on board, fit to come all officiate them and the principal masters of the two submarine ones on the quay and exigea keeps it-to-you, before to begin yelling: " Band of c, you did to have yourself as blue! The Germans entertained you the last night as kids. While you played policemen and to the thieves, they did to pass the submarine ones to your beard and to this hour, they already there are installing the machines to Toulon! What's more, the Minerve brought back injureds and failed to jump on an expression and l' Iris cannot anymore dive. You are the shame of the National Navy! Since you are only incapable, everyone is recorded on board until new order. In two hours, I want a detailed report of the orders on my office, and you would benefit by to be credible, for there is places of persons in charge of the security to take to the arsenals of Tamatave and of Cayenne!"
It sets off again without a word of more. To midnight, the Pacha revint. All the crew awaited it with worry: " Good, it is himself a little calm. I think that it would have been cheated him also. There was straight out an of their better ones ordering of submarine ones. It had a revenge to take on the army of the air and on the Special Forces, I think that it had to prepare his blow since a week and this is we that pulled the bad number. For the admiral, so as their submarine new ones do not go out any Toulon, there is not peril. Now, it is necessary for them nonetheless not poorly of times to be operational and of here there, several things can produce themselves. At last, they are not anyway that eight. Good, fortunately that our mission were highly confidential. Officially, damages and consummate munitions are had to an unexpected engagement with coastal forces at the time of a training mission and of recognition on the coast varoise. Tomorrow morning, direction Bizerte for the repairs, and without leading."
After the war, we were authorized to paint the outline of four boats in paper on the kiosk of our building, little before it is not reformed, in to remember of this memorable action."
