order. He ider regarded by von Aufsess as a moderate was deprived of his post when extreme policies prevailed in February 1945.
Courteous relations between senior officers and the Islands' upper class were the rule. On Sark after receiving Lanz courteously, Hathaway continued to receive German officers from various Islands, and was allowed guests like Countess Bl ü cher and Countess Radziwill. On Guernsey, Prince F ü rst von Oettingen was a member of the Kommandantur and Hathaway dealt with him on important matters. He was 'charming' to both her and her American husband, Robert. They had mutual friends and 'talked as friends do, and it seemed incredible that we were enemies'. When Sibyl's son, Lionel, died in a German raid on Liverpool von Schmettow conveyed his sympathies; she did likewise two years later when his son was killed. This relationship was to help the Germans, and encourage collaboration. It smelt of a privileged existence at one level in society for those fraternizing with German administrators. After the war, the Hathaways and other members of the ruling class visited their wartime colleagues in Bavaria.
The occupation garrison which formed the military aspect of German government soon received its insclkommandant. Major Graf Rudolf von Schmettow, who arrived in Jersey on 27 September 1940. Von Schmettow. a dignified, courtly, tall Prussian of the old school, was ideally suited for the post, and he was a skilful commander for the first four years of the occupation. He was under the command of Army Group D in the West successively headed by von Witzleben, von Rundstedt, Kluge and Model. He was a nephew of von Rundstedt's who visited him on the Islands. He was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, similarly courteous and tall, and sporting a monocle. Count von Helldorf. Although von Schmettow was to remain inselkommandant officially until February 1945 his power was effectively reduced in September the previous year when von Helldorf was replaced as his chief of staff by a fanatical Nazi. Thereafter von Schmettow became increasingly harsh in his rule. At first his headquarters were on Jersey at St Monaco in St Saviours, and from April 1941 at the Hotel Metropole. He lived in the former Government House waited on by the same servants that had served the British lieutenant-governor. A subordinate command was created on Guernsey under Major Bandclow. In September 1943, von Schmettow transferred his headquarters to Guernsey, and it became necessary to make a subordinate command in Jersey instead. This was occupied by a Nazi, Major Siegfried Heine who later joined the headquarters staff of Vice-Admiral Hüffmeier , the last commandant, and devoted adherent of Hitler.
In Alderney, a separate command was created in July 1941 under Captain Carl Hoffmann, but it was not until the end of the year that all troops on the Island came fully under the Island Commander's authority. By then there had been several changes in command although Hoffmann remained as an adviser, and was promoted before being transferred to Jersey. Early i n 1942, Lieutenant-Colonel Zuske became the Island commander, and he was succeeded in November 1943 by Lieutenant-Colonel Schwalm, who remained in charge until the surrender. When the Islands were made a fortress in February 1944, von Schmettow, Heine, and Schwalm became the respective festungskommandants of Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney . Sark had its own succession of Island commanders, but they were usually majors or captains, under the control of Guernsey.
Similar good relations existed with this military hierarchy as far as the Islands' rulers were concerned. Alexander Coutanche, who von Aufsess described as the 'wily' Bailiff of Jersey, illustrated his privileged position, and the closeness of relations between occupied and occupier at his social level in one passage of autobiography. 'One morning I looked out of my bedroom window and saw a German strolling about on my lawn, which
Courteous relations between senior officers and the Islands' upper class were the rule. On Sark after receiving Lanz courteously, Hathaway continued to receive German officers from various Islands, and was allowed guests like Countess Bl ü cher and Countess Radziwill. On Guernsey, Prince F ü rst von Oettingen was a member of the Kommandantur and Hathaway dealt with him on important matters. He was 'charming' to both her and her American husband, Robert. They had mutual friends and 'talked as friends do, and it seemed incredible that we were enemies'. When Sibyl's son, Lionel, died in a German raid on Liverpool von Schmettow conveyed his sympathies; she did likewise two years later when his son was killed. This relationship was to help the Germans, and encourage collaboration. It smelt of a privileged existence at one level in society for those fraternizing with German administrators. After the war, the Hathaways and other members of the ruling class visited their wartime colleagues in Bavaria.
The occupation garrison which formed the military aspect of German government soon received its insclkommandant. Major Graf Rudolf von Schmettow, who arrived in Jersey on 27 September 1940. Von Schmettow. a dignified, courtly, tall Prussian of the old school, was ideally suited for the post, and he was a skilful commander for the first four years of the occupation. He was under the command of Army Group D in the West successively headed by von Witzleben, von Rundstedt, Kluge and Model. He was a nephew of von Rundstedt's who visited him on the Islands. He was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, similarly courteous and tall, and sporting a monocle. Count von Helldorf. Although von Schmettow was to remain inselkommandant officially until February 1945 his power was effectively reduced in September the previous year when von Helldorf was replaced as his chief of staff by a fanatical Nazi. Thereafter von Schmettow became increasingly harsh in his rule. At first his headquarters were on Jersey at St Monaco in St Saviours, and from April 1941 at the Hotel Metropole. He lived in the former Government House waited on by the same servants that had served the British lieutenant-governor. A subordinate command was created on Guernsey under Major Bandclow. In September 1943, von Schmettow transferred his headquarters to Guernsey, and it became necessary to make a subordinate command in Jersey instead. This was occupied by a Nazi, Major Siegfried Heine who later joined the headquarters staff of Vice-Admiral Hüffmeier , the last commandant, and devoted adherent of Hitler.
In Alderney, a separate command was created in July 1941 under Captain Carl Hoffmann, but it was not until the end of the year that all troops on the Island came fully under the Island Commander's authority. By then there had been several changes in command although Hoffmann remained as an adviser, and was promoted before being transferred to Jersey. Early i n 1942, Lieutenant-Colonel Zuske became the Island commander, and he was succeeded in November 1943 by Lieutenant-Colonel Schwalm, who remained in charge until the surrender. When the Islands were made a fortress in February 1944, von Schmettow, Heine, and Schwalm became the respective festungskommandants of Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney . Sark had its own succession of Island commanders, but they were usually majors or captains, under the control of Guernsey.
Similar good relations existed with this military hierarchy as far as the Islands' rulers were concerned. Alexander Coutanche, who von Aufsess described as the 'wily' Bailiff of Jersey, illustrated his privileged position, and the closeness of relations between occupied and occupier at his social level in one passage of autobiography. 'One morning I looked out of my bedroom window and saw a German strolling about on my lawn, which
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