8 January 1945 Part 3

8 January 1945 German notice concerning the escape of American prisoners Clark and Haas

Editorial note: German occupation notice issued in English. This concerns American military prisoners, not escaping Jersey civilians. The escape and notice share the date 8 January 1945. The notice does not establish that the men left Jersey or reached Allied territory. The threats and personal descriptions below reproduce the issuing authority’s statements. Compare the posting order of 9 January and Attorney General’s reply of 10 January in B/A/W30/146; the supplied documents do not explicitly cross-reference D/Z/H5/130.

NOTICE

On January 8th, 1945, the American prisoners-of-war Captain Clark and Lieutenant Haas escaped from the German prisoner-of-war camp. They will attempt to obtain shelter and help from the English civilian population.

It is expressly announced that anyone who takes in or extends help in any way to Captain Clark or Lieutenant Haas will be punished by death according to paragraph 9 of the Order for the Protection of the Occupying Forces.

DESCRIPTION.

Captain Clark. About 29 to 31 years old. Fair, curly hair, brushed back. Slim athletic build, about 5 ft. 8 ins. to 5 ft. 9 ins., small face, looks ill, grey eyes. Probably wearing American uniform (khaki) and fatigue dress.

Lieutenant Haas. About 22 to 24 years old. Dark hair, sticks up somewhat, small, pale, boyish face lower jaw somewhat prominent, dark eyes. Face long and full. Tall, slim build about 5 ft. 9 ins. to 5 ft. 11 ins. Limps somewhat due to a wound in the leg. Probably wearing American uniform (khaki) shirt or fatigue dress.

The Commandant of Fortress Jersey. Signed HEINE, Colonel. Jersey, 8 January 1945. [German signature block translated; English notice transcribed with spacing normalised.]

Original English-language German occupation notice dated 8 January 1945. D/Z/H5/130. Original image embedded without alteration.

German Fortress Commandant Jersey, notice dated 8 January 1945, signed Heine, Colonel. Supplied original image D_Z_H5_130.png; archival reference D/Z/H5/130.