Chapter VI

 

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

 

 

Postscript

 

At the moment of going to press an article has appeared in the local paper. We are naturally pleased at the spontaneous and unexpected tribute it contains, and I have therefore unhesitatingly added a translation as a fitting postscript to this little book.

 

The article appeared in the „Ostholsteinisches Tageblatt“ for 26th February 1958 and runs as follows:

 

 

CHANGE OF COMMAND AT TODENDORF

 

When the British Permanent Staff at Todendorf Camp leave on 1st April (as already reported) in order to go back, a few gaps will be left in some German families. During the long years of their stay, the British at Todendorf have made firm family ties as can be seen from the number of marriages which have taken place in the Lütjenburg Church and Registry Office. The British soldiers were welcome guests in the surrounding villages and in Lütjenburg and were accepted as part and parcel of the street scene. Our loyalty requires us to stress this point as we know that this was not always the case in other towns in the Federal Republic. We believe that Lt. Col. C.M.D. Burnett – for several years Camp Commandant at Todendorf – contributed to a great extent to the good relationship which has existed between the local population and the British soldiers. He arranged for German lessons to be given to the Officers, NCOs and Ors, so that they would better be able to make contact with the local population.

 

The German Administration will take over a model Camp at Todendorf. Does anyone recall the early dyas when ugly huts with corrugated iron roofs disfigured the countryside? Whoever goes to Todendorf Camp now will find stone buildings surrounded by well tended grass patches and flowers. Ideal roads connect the individual parts of the Camp, and discipline, good order and cleanliness are everywhere. An old German ex-soldier employed in the camp among many other German civilians said some time ago: “It’s even more Prussian than with the Prussians here!” It is good to note that in other nations too order, cleanliness and discipline are the main-stays on which the efficiency of a troop is based.

 

When the NATO Camp at Todendorf came into being some years ago, it was feared that the noise of the guns firing would drive away the summer visitors to the surrounding bathing resorts. These fears were exaggerated. One hears the noise of the guns only when the heavy AA is firing live ammunition, and these occasions have been comparatively few. The public quickly became accustomed to the few old aircraft used fow towing the target sleeves. They were not very noisy and seldom left the Todendorf area.

 

And so the development of Todendorf as a Garrison and Practice Camp with British and foreign troops has really proceeded smoothly. No doubt the European and NATO vviewpoints have helped the German population to look upon the soldiers as being Allies and no longer an Army of Occupation.

 

 

 

Appendix