Saturday 14th July 1945... 14d7m1945... Italy declared war on Japan effective the next day. Japanese destroyer Tachibana was bombed and sunk in Hakodate Bay by U.S. Navy aircraft. The Simla Conference on the future of Indian government ended in failure. The ban on Allied troops fraternizing with German women was lifted. ------- x ------- NEW FRATERNIZATION RULES FOR BRITISH TROOPS British soldiers with German girls. Photo taken by Sergeant Ginger. Nb. The caption card says - 16d7m1945. The online description says - 14d7m1945. 14d7m1945 perhaps because "The ban on Allied troops fraternizing with German women was lifted." But - 16d7m1945 - might make sense if this "NEW FRATERNIZATION RULES FOR BRITISH TROOPS" photo series was subsequently commissioned. BRITISH TROOPS "FRATERNISE" : HERSFORD An officer walking with two German girls and an Alsation dog. Photo taken by Sergeant Ginger. 14d7m1945 / 16d7m1945. BRITISH TROOPS "FRATERNISE" : HERSFORD BRITISH TROOPS "FRATERNISE" : HERSFORD
An interesting subject that plagued many soldiers throughout the war. Fraternization - Wikipedia Guarding POW's Medjez el Bab Tunisia1943 Every one of the 1500 had to be accounted for, a job which began as a nightmare and ended as a piece of automatic book keeping. After the count came a chat with the officers plus plenty of propaganda (on both sides) and the day’s work was done. We never had anyone escape but then they had no wish to, being mostly Italians. Many were the times I was earnestly assured it was a waste of time to inspect the wire to have so many guards, to count so carefully. “They are happy here, for them the war is over, they have nothing to escape for”. During that time I learned a lot about the Italians and plenty about the Germans. And in fact I grew to like the poor Italians quite a lot. They were just like children; just as exasperating at times but just as lovable. Their officers with few exceptions were very charming and human chaps quite different from their hard-bitten argumentative German “Comrades”. The Italian politics were of course completely crazy; but at least they had no delusions of a civilizing mission and no belief In Musso. They didn’t even give the Fascist salute and when they broke off after parade they all shouted “Vive le re”. So it wasn’t long before I felt convinced that the old bullfrog wasn’t long for this world- a conviction which came true with startling speed. I did in fact make friends (without committing the deadly sin of “Fraternisation”) with the whole 15 centurias. For one day before I left I was confronted with a deputation which addressed me as follows:- “We wish to thank you, signor tenento, both for yourself as an officer and for your regiment, for the very gentlemanly way you have treated us. We hope that we may remain prisoners of the English until we return to Italy. We wish you good luck and may the war soon be over for you too.” Lt Bill Beadle GPO C Troop 67th Field Regt RA TA
