FRANCE, BAY OF ANTIBES: WAR MONUMENT FORGOTTEN?

The site is the Bay of Antibes, France.

A monument has been set up to inform people about some important events that took place at the Bay of Antibes during the Second World War. I have passed the monument many times without paying any attention to the monument or the dramatic events described on the stone. Last year I decided to do some research about the persons and the events leading to the making of a war monument. The story is thrilling. The main keywords for the story are: Betrayed, sentenced to death, concentration camps, love, marriage, submarine, French Resistance, and courage. This is the story about Peter Churchill (1909 – 1972) and Odette Sansom (1912-1995).

Both were working for the British, Special Operations Executive (SOE). Captain Peter Churchill was dropped off by foldboats in the Bay of Antibes to work for the French Resistance in south of France. He was infiltrated into France four times, twice by submarine and twice by aircraft. Odette Sansom was born in France but had moved to England. She was recruited by SOE. After receiving basic training in England, she was taken to France to work as a radio operator. Peter Churchill and Odette Sansom worked together. They were betrayed by a German double agent. Odette Sansom was sentenced to death and send to Ravensbruck concentration camp. The execution was not carried out. Peter Churchill and Odette Sansom were married for about nine years after the war.

In 1950 the film: “ Odette” was released. The film was based on a book about Odette Sansom: “ Odette: The Story of a British Agent” written by Jerrard Tickell. The movie was directed by Herbert Wilcox. Starring: Anna Neagle plays Odette Sansom and Trevor Howard plays Peter Churchill. Peter Ustinov, Marius Goring and Bernard Lee are also playing in the movie. Next time you pay the Bay of Antibes a visit, take a look at the monument and think about two persons who never gave up the fight, who survived torture and the life in a concentration camp.

The film was the fourth most popular movie at the British box office in 1950.

After the war, Peter Churchill settled in France in a small village,
Le Rouret. He lived here until his death in 1972. He worked in real estates.
( For your information only: Le Rouret is located 10km from Grasse,26 km from Cannes and about 28km from Nice)

THE PRESS EMBLEM CAMPAIGN( PEC) AND AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES

The updating of the content of any audiovisual archive is an aim worth fighting for to increase the standard of the academic research work. Annual input of facts and information about political events are a must for most of the audiovisual archives. Radio companies and television stations are daily transmitting facts to people about what is going on around the world. Who are doing the work collecting the information? The answer is: The journalists. The reports made by Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) about the working conditions for the journalists are alarming. Too many journalists have been killed on duty. PEC annual report for year 2014 is a document about the mounting dangers journalists are facing while working. 128 journalists are reported killed on duty in 32 countries. Middle East is on the top of the list for 2014. The most dangerous countries are: Gaza with 16 killed, Syria with 13 killed, Pakistan with 12 killed, Iraq with 10 killed, Ukraine with 9 killed, Mexico with 8 killed, Afghanistan with 6 killed, Honduras with 5 killed, Somalia with 5 killed, Brazil with 4 killed, Central African Republic with 4 killed, Cambodia with 3 killed, Guinea with 3 killed, Paraguay with 3 killed, and Philippines with 3 killed. The standard of academic studies is depending on correct information stored in libraries and archives made for future television and radio productions and studies. On the national level, it is important that the government introduces a legal deposit law for all broadcast materials. The responsibility for the future care of national audiovisual patrimony must be supported by a country’s national library or archive. But it is even more important to protect those brave few who are risking their lives to get the facts needed for a high academic standard of the audiovisual archives. The content and the standard of the archives are jeopardized if the annual report of PEC continues to publish an increase in the number of killed journalists – and above all: A threat to any democratic system or society.

The Press Emblem Campaign(PEC) is an international independent non profit and  a non-governmental organization (NGO) with Special consultative UN status.
PEC was founded in June 2004 by a group of journalists from several countries based in Geneva.
The aims of PEC are to promote the protection of journalists in situations of violence, with a view to
strengthening the respect for press freedom and the right of professional journalism to information.

REGIMENT NORGE

REGIMENT NORGE

A WANTED HISTORY?

The year is 1944. The months are September and October. The Second World War is not finished. The Norwegian soldiers from “ Regiment Norge”  are having a hard time fighting the Russian soldiers from the Soviet Red Army . The battle of the capital of Latvia, Riga, is going on. The story of the Norwegian front fighters is not a wanted report among those who are interested in the military history of Norway. No. Few of those Norwegians who fought in Riga supporting the German Armies and the German occupation of Latvia in September and October 1944 thought that the Soviet Red Armies might win the war. The military situation was not a good one for “ Regiment Norge”. The Norwegians were fighting the soldiers of the Soviet army believing that the fight was  for the best of Europe and  the best policy for Norway because German had to win the war. Not all of the Norwegians had joined the army for political reasons. One person joined because of personal reason. Harry A. Ellingsen has written an interesting book: “ REGIMENT NORGE”.  The fight in Latvia is dealt with in a special chapter from page 99 to page 118. Bjørn Lindstad did not join the regiment due to political reasons but of private, personal problems. He survived the battle of Latvia and he managed to return to normal working conditions after the war. When the history of Latvia is written I think it is a must to mention those Norwegians who died to avoid a Russian occupation of the country. Sverre Hansen, Ola Nordberg, Haakon Windingstad, Thomas Sandberg, Bjørn Lindstad, Harry Osnes, Anton Berg, Odd Angelsen, Knut Baardseth and Willy Hund have reported about the war in Latvia in the book mentioned. The story is unwanted because none of them fought for the King of Norway, the Norwegian Government in London or the majority of the Norwegian population who did not want to be occupied by Germany in 1940. The soldiers listed up in “ Regiment Norge” knew the consequences of joining the enemies of the legal elected government of Norway. They lost the fight. But the history must have a different meaning towards the people of Latvia than the people of Norway. The Norwegian soldiers were fighting in cities like Riga, Liepaja, Baldone, Priekule and Vainode.

38 Norwegian soldiers were killed. 4 were taken prisoners. 2 soldiers deserted, and 69 soldiers were wounded.

The Norwegian front fighters took part in a dramatic period of the history of Latvia. The aim was to stop the attack from the Soviet Red Armies- but the aim was also to support Adolf Hitler in his work to occupy Soviet Union and Latvia. Sverre, Ola, Haakon, Thomas, Bjørn, Harry , Anton,Odd, Knut and Willy had played a dangerous game risking their own lives to support Adolf Hitler and the political aims of the German policy towards Joseph Stalin and his undemocratic regime. They lost the game but their contributions must not be forgotten by Latvia for historical reasons only.

Latvia was occupied by Soviet Union in June 1940. The Nazi Germany occupied Latvia from 1941 to 1944. The Soviet Red Army re-entered Riga on October 13, 1944.

Photos:Tedd Urnes

Harry A. Ellingsen: Regiment Norge. Historien om en frontkjemperenhet. Pax Forlag A/S, Oslo 2011.

COMMENTS ABOUT THE SELECTED SOURCES PUBLISHED.

The author of the book has published information about his personal contacts and research work. The list of libraries and archives and written documents are splendid work. I do miss an important source:
A report about access to audiovisual archives situated in Norway and in foreign countries? The author has come close to the sources by making direct contact with front fighters who took part in the fighting in latvia. But what about sound recordings, television programmes transmitted, radio programmes, photo archives and the use of private films as sources?
An up-dating of the book might also include the sources mentioned?
Tedd Urnes