Once Britain had declared war on Germany (11.15am, UK) September 3rd 1939, what was the procedure for Germany to close the embassy and for its diplomatic staff and their families to leave London (and the residencies that Germany owned)? I believe that Carlton House Terrace was the German embassy. Did they have a number of days to pack up and leave? What were they allowed to leave with and how did they return home to Germany? Were German embassy staff destroying documents etc. prior to the 3rd? Thanks db
for info Nazis in Pre-War London, 1930–1939 one assumes they burnt all important documents. "Previously unpublished German documents reveal the fate of German diplomats, journalists, and professionals, many of whom were interned in Britain or deported to Nazi Germany once war broke out on 3 September 1939. "
There are a few prior threads, that touch on the subject, i.e. among others... German Diplomatic staff in London Auctioning the contents of the German Embassy 1946. Also, quite a few articles, and comments in other forums on line... e.g. The German Embassy in London, 1939 Has... "There was a guaranteed transfer of diplomatic staff and their familes - via either Switzerland, Holland or Sweden, have to check! IIRC a lot of the British diplomatic staff in Berlin were already heading for the Swiss border on advisement before the outbreak of the war, as were various touring sporting teams! The British "International Six Days Trial" motorcycling team for one, and a group of roadracing motorcyclists doing that summer's "continental circus" of grand prix' for another! The ISDT was actually assisted in it's rapid departure via Switzerland by the Nazi NSKK! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Motor_Corps The fraternity of sport lasted at least a short time into the war... Obviously, I have no way of getting it up here, but I have a pic in a Daily Mail WWII press photo anthology of the movers clearing out the German Embassy on Monday morning September 4th 1939. I severely doubt there was much left for the security services to go through - "shredding and burning" would have had its various chimneys belching smoke 24/7 for a couple of days! " And... The German museum paintings secretly sold by the British government in 1946 Has... "declaration of war on 3 September 1939. The following day Germany’s London embassy was put under the jurisdiction of neutral Switzerland. Aftermath Following Germany’s defeat on 8 May 1945, Swiss protection of the London embassy ended, and the British were entitled to take over the building as “enemy assets”. Civil servants discussed what to do with the contents, which were mainly to be auctioned to raise money for reparation payments. At Whitehall’s request, the paintings were examined by National Gallery curator Neil MacLaren on 22 August 1945." Incidentally... IWM Archive - German Embassy in London Visitor's Book, 1937 -1939 Has... "Content description The visitor's books (2 bound volumes) from the German Embassy in London containing the signatures of many eminent personages of the time. One volume contains 32 inscribed pages, begins with the names 'Lord and Lady Glamis' 25 May 1937 and ends with 'Colonel Cabold-Sawle Penrice' 29 August 1939. The other volume contains 53 inscribed pages, begins with the name 'Frau Marie Willard' and ends with 'Katherine Furse'. Not all entries are dated, although the earliest and latest dates given are 15 May 1937 and 25 May 1938 respectively. Both volumes are bound in an off white covering, embossed with a German eagle over an oak leaf circlet surrounding a swastika. Both volumes have their own custom made storage box." I did look ;-) to see whether there was much re. "Colonel Cabold-Sawle Penrice" - but currently drawing a blank :-(
Maybe Colonel Ralph Patteson Cobbold-Sawle from Penrice in Cornwall? Colonel Ralph Patterson Cobbold-Sawle. DSO The Sawle Family of Penrice, Cornwall
If you visit the website of the London Picture Archive and search for " 9 Carlton House Terrace" there are some images of the interior of the German Embassy taken in 1939. London Picture Archive
