They progressed through Germany at a rapid pace and eventually arrived
near Berlin. The Allies had been halted to allow the Russians take Berlin.
Len witnessed Montgomery drive off to talk to his Russian counterparts twice.
After Montgomery’s second discussion with the Russians, Len and thousands
of other assorted troops were ordered to tidy up their camp and get ready for
a speech. Montgomery addressed thousands of troops telling them they had come
as far as possible and that they would have to move back.
Len actually met up with some of the Russians, he couldn’t understand many
of them, but some could speak English. They were amused when one Russian soldier
kissed their NCO in a traditional greeting.
There were rumours that Germans were surrendering to the Americans and British,
in preference to the Russians. Len was told that groups of Germans may throw
down their arms and surrender to them to avoid capture by the Russians. He never
personally witnessed any Germans surrendering like this.
He got on well with many of the German civilians, although he didn’t meet
many men, the civilian population were mainly women, elderly folk and children.
Despite all of the hardships suffered back in Britain, Len still felt sorry for
many of these German folk.
He and his unit weren’t told anything about what had happened to Hitler,
at the time they thought he might have escaped, the only news they got was about
what the Russians were doing.
Back to England
When ordered back to France Len thought they were retreating, probably because
of memories at Dunkirk. Even on the way back to France they still experienced
pockets of German resistance. The Germans that were left behind in these pockets
didn’t know what had happened. Len believed a lot of the French farmers
and villagers captured many of these Germans that had been left behind.
Len was told it was all over and the peace treaty had been signed on a snowy,
cold morning whilst billeted in a French school building, Len can not remember
the exact location.
In order to return to Britain Len had
to travel to the Northern French coast with a group of men including an officer
who had a map. It was much like the Dunkirk and Battle of France again, accept
this time they weren’t retreating under heavy German fire.
When they reached the coast they found themselves a few miles from the ship embarkation
point, however some local French men were looking out for stragglers and took
them by boat to an appropriate ship home.
Len arrived back in England at Folkestone and surprisingly didn’t wait
long before playing football again for Purbrook Football Club, whilst training
as a mechanic at Wadham Stringers in Waterlooville.