IRELAND may now be reliant on the “kindness of strangers” in Germany, but, nearly 70 years ago the shoe was on the other foot. Shipwrecked German second World War sailors, rescued and brought here, were pleasantly surprised to discover a land of milk and honey – quite unlike their war-ravaged Fatherland.
On New Year's Day, 1944 the Wexford-based merchant ship MV Kerloguesailed into Cobh Harbour with a cargo of oranges from Lisbon and "163 shipwreck survivors and one dead body on board". The Irish crew had picked up the Germans in the Bay of Biscay when their warships sank after a naval battle with British forces.
The men were initially detained in Cork barracks and questioned by Irish Military Intelligence. Their answers were translated and transcribed in a series of memos, stamped “Secret”, and now stored in the Military Archives of the Defence Forces at Cathal Brugha barracks.
The documents reveal that the Germans “knew little or nothing about Ireland [but] have a general idea that Mr De Valera and the IRA are friendly to them but people as a whole unfriendly”.
Although the Irish Free State was neutral during the war, food imports were disrupted and certain items – particularly tea and sugar – were rationed. But after the privations of service with the Kriegsmarine (war navy), the Germans were “amazed” by the food in “Emergency” Ireland. They were especially delighted by “the white bread” in Cork (“emphasis on ‘White’,”– stressed the Army officer who wrote the memo) and also by “the abundant quantities of meat, bacon, eggs, milk etc.” For sailors who, by their own accounts, had survived on “rum and chocolate, vitamins and pep food” aboard battleships, fresh produce must have been a welcome luxury.
One remarked: “As far as food is concerned, Ireland is 99 per cent better off than Germany”; another: “we got as much meat at one meal [in Cork] as you would get in a week” [in the Germany navy]; and another: “The food here is beyond all praise”.
The Irish were curious to know what the Germans really thought about the war. Their comments included: “British navy very good; US airmen very good; British Army cannot fight, does not know how; US Army does not know how”. But, despite Italy being an ally of Nazi Germany, the blunt view expressed was: “Italians: contemptible. They are no good. They will not fight. They will have us fight for them”. There is just one reference to Jews, being mass-murdered by the Nazis: “The Jew he is like a serpent”.
Major Gen Costello concluded that the “leader” of the German group, Lt Cmdr Joachim Quedenfeldt: “does not seem to be a genuine Nazi and possibly represents the old naval school” as he “never gave a ‘Heil Hitler’ salute until the German Minister, Dr Hempel, set the example after his arrival”.
Germany's envoy to wartime Dublin visited Cork to inquire about the welfare of his compatriots and described their rescue as an "exemplary deed, worthy of the great tradition of Irish gallantry and humanity". The story attracted much press interest. The files contain a telegram, dated January 4th, 1944, from the Daily Heraldin Manchester sent to: "Burrows, 8 Willbrook Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin" with the request: "Please Cover German Sailors Story Well".
It is stamped by the Ard-Scrúdóir Telegrafa (Office of the Chief Telegraph Censor). Sheets of editorial content submitted to the censor by The Irish Timeshave sections marked "deleted".
Later that month, the “prisoners” were transferred to the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare and interned until the end of the war when most returned to Germany. Many were young, single men who gave the name of a father, mother, brother or sister as next of kin – although some wives’ names are listed in the files. Their letters home to Germany were described as “pathetically adolescent” by the military censor.
Letters sent to the Germans in the Curragh by Irish citizens were also intercepted by censors.
In May 1944, a resident of Sandymount, Dublin 4 wrote to an internee to express his sympathy after hearing “over the German radio the tragic news of the death of your beloved Fuehrer”. The letter continued: “When you return to Germany tell your people that we in Éire were deeply conscious of the service which your leader and your nation have rendered to Europe”.
An anonymous letter, signed by “A Friend”, complaining about the behaviour of an internee, was sent to the Department of Defence in Dublin with a request that it be forwarded to “the German Commander” at the Curragh. The letter, which contained a number of spelling errors, claimed that Fritz Hollander, “a fair hair man” was allegedly “visiting a house near the Curragh of a desent and very respectful married woman who has four children to support and who husband is away working in Dublin”.
Apparently, he was “taking the bite of food out of her mouth and her children, and he is getting money of her for drink”. Fritz was also accused of “trying to make her take to the drink”. The letter-writer begged the German commander to: “please interview him and stop him from breaking up a very happy home and a very happy couple”. It is not recorded if the letter was ever delivered or if any action was taken. Nor is it known what happened to Fritz.