Five Brothers and a War

Operation Manna/Chowhound

One group dealt with the naval issues, including the selection of the ports to be used, the navigation through and then the clearing of minefields, and the logistics of moving goods through to the populace. Another group dealt with the supply via aircraft, with particular emphasis on routes to be used, and suppression of anti-aircraft weapon systems. One of the major issues that had to be worked out was the structure of the distribution chain once the food was inside Holland. The Germans wanted to control the process, whereas the Allies, certain that the Germans would take whatever food they wanted to feed their soldiers first, insisted that the Dutch would have sole responsibility for getting the food to their people. The Allies also suspected that the Germans wanted to gain the upper hand by using food relief for their own propaganda needs. It took a great deal of pressure for the Germans to give in on this key point. General Foulkes met with General Plocher and dealt with the mechanics of allowing free travel of convoys on land and water. General Plocher, still trying to maintain control of western Holland despite the fact that the war would be over within days, demanded that only one road be used for all movement of food. General Foulkes pressed on, creating a large demilitarized area to ensure that no shooting incident could occur, even by mistake. He suggested that the entire area between the Waal and the IJsselmeer be under a truce. General Plocher was very annoyed by this suggestion. He said that he lacked the authority to agree to such a demand, and would have to consult with his superiors. This in turn caused General Foulkes to become agitated. But he said that while he was willing to compromise on the size of the area to be included in a cease-fire, he was not willing to “soften” the terms of that truce. It was critical to the Canadian that no incident occur to derail the distribution of the food. General Plocher replied that he was fully capable of drawing up a map, but General Foulkes responded that he knew that the Germany army had members who had the desire and capability to take matters into their own hands, contrary to orders, and it would not take much for the distribution of food to be slowed or halted as a result. In his words, he wanted rules that “could not possibly be mistaken by the stupidest man.” General Foulkes became very frustrated and pressed General Plocher to either get his superior, General Johannes Blaskowitz, to come to handle the issues at hand or to get the authority needed to make the decisions. After some hesitation, he agreed. Generals Smith and de Guingand, along with two other generals (one a Major-General and the other a Brigadier) privately met with Seyß-Inquart to discuss capitulation. When General Smith said that it was only a matter of weeks before Germany would have to admit defeat, Seyß-Inquart said that he entirely agreed. But now it was his turn to punt, when he stated that the control of the Wehrmacht was not under his control, but under General Blaskowitz's. General Smith then told him that any further loss of life would be his responsibility, to which Seyß-Inquart answered that he was not afraid to die, because he was a German.

the war

Five Brothers and a War

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