They Fought Alone: The True Story of the Starr Brothers, British Secret Agents in Nazi-Occupied France

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They Fought Alone: The True Story of the Starr Brothers, British Secret Agents in Nazi-Occupied France Page 39

by Charles Glass

Monnet, Henri, 51, 82, 211, 228, 236

  Montauban, 159, 216–17

  Mont-de-Marsan, 204, 214

  Montesquieu-Volvestre, 100–101, 112

  Montréjeau, 216

  Morel, Gérard “Gerry,” 77–78, 129, 151, 164

  Morocco, 28, 43, 55

  Morrisse, Jeanine, 52

  Moureau, Maurice, 81–82

  Munn, J. W., 238

  Mussolini, Benito, 88

  National Gunpowder Factory, 155

  Neraud family, 70–71

  Newton, Alfred, 20, 119, 250–51, 253

  Newton, Henry, 20, 119, 250–51, 253

  New York Times, 197, 218–19

  Niven, David, 20

  Norman, Gilbert (“Archambaud”), 107, 110, 111, 120, 140–41

  Normandy landings (D-Day) and Allied advance, 44, 84–86, 88, 133, 153, 154, 166–68, 169–75, 189, 190, 191, 197–98, 200, 210, 215

  North Africa, 7, 28, 44, 55, 85, 128, 152

  Novarini, Argentina “Tina,” 36, 41, 47, 54, 114, 131

  Novarini, Joseph “Pino,” 36, 41, 47, 54, 114, 131

  Nuremberg Trials, 256

  Observer, 201

  Office of Strategic Services (OSS), 199, 213

  Official Secrets Act, 2, 14

  Operation Dragoon, 215

  Operation Husky, 88

  Operation Neptune, see Normandy landings (D-Day) and Allied advance

  Operation Torch, 7, 28

  Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, 180, 214

  Organisation de Résistance de l’Armée (ORA), 81

  Ortega, Tomás Guerrero (“Camilo”), 158–59, 177, 183–85, 191, 192, 195, 212, 216–17, 228, 243

  Otto, Erich, 68, 209, 224

  Pagès, Fernand, 78, 113, 114, 192

  Panjas, 81, 83, 172, 194, 196, 200, 202, 204, 220, 241

  Panzers, see Das Reich 2nd SS Panzer Division

  Paris, 166

  Avenue Foch in, see Avenue Foch

  German evacuation of, 221

  German surrender and, 248

  Parisot, Claude Joseph Maurice (“Caillou”; “Stone”), 81–83, 155, 158, 172, 184, 186, 194, 196, 200, 204–8, 210, 213–18, 227–28, 241, 244

  death of, 227–28, 232

  funeral for, 228

  German invasion and destruction of house of, 213–14

  Parisot, Françoise, 213

  Parisot, Jeanne, 172, 213–14, 218

  Parsons, Dennis (“Pierrot”), 155, 193–95, 240

  Pasteur Institute, 140

  Patch, Alexander, 215

  Pat Escape Line, 61

  Patton, George, 167

  Pertschuk, Maurice (“Eugene”), 48–52, 58, 61–66, 78

  arrest of, 64–66, 68

  Pétain, Philippe, 4, 19, 36, 81

  Peyrot, Francis, 146, 147

  Phantom unit, 18, 20

  Philippines, 37

  PHYSICIAN circuit, 104–5, 107, 109, 121, 140

  Pickersgill, Frank (“Bertrand”), 151

  PIMENTO circuit, 49, 172, 178

  Pitou, André, 196

  Placke, Josef, 110, 111, 140, 149–51, 158, 160, 252, 258–60

  Plage de la Garoupe, 24

  Polish airmen, 92, 115–16

  Poncelet, Maurice, 82, 155, 184, 192, 194

  Port-Miou, 12–14, 25, 65

  Postes, Télégraphes et Téléphones (PTT), 172

  Poudrerie Nationale de Toulouse, 155

  Prieur, Olivier, 130

  Prost, Commandant, 173, 175, 176, 188, 192, 194, 195

  PRUNUS circuit, 48, 50, 51, 56, 61–63, 66, 78

  Rabinovitch, Adolphe (“Arnaud”), 51–52, 66, 73–74, 79, 84, 157–58

  RACKETEER circuit, 166

  radio:

  detector vans, 56

  Funkspiel, 68, 110–11, 120–21, 127, 136, 148–49, 152, 209, 223–24, 260, 262, 267

  Radio Londres, 163, 170

  Rafferty, Brian Dominic, 70, 71, 91, 104

  Ravanel, Serge, see Asher, Serge

  Ravel de Malval, Henri, 23

  Rée, Harry, 87, 160

  Ree, Lance Sergeant, 22

  Resistance, see French Resistance

  Rhodes, F. W., 235, 239, 240

  Riols, Noreen, 232

  Riviera, 215

  Rizon (milicien), 242, 243

  Robert, Jeanne (Madame Delattre), 32–36, 38, 41, 43, 45, 47, 52–54, 74, 92, 93, 96, 99, 100, 112, 113, 129, 141, 166, 184, 195, 268

  death of, 268

  escape of, 130–33

  George Starr and, 33, 38, 39, 53, 54, 72–73, 114, 115, 130

  Rouneau and, 34, 53, 54, 93–94, 112–13, 130–32, 166

  spy accusation against, 113–14, 192–93

  Roche, T. G., 252

  Rommel, Erwin, 128, 197

  Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 5, 55–56, 86

  Rostand, Edmond, 38

  Rouffranche, Marguerite, 180

  Rouneau, Maurice Henri (“Captain Martin Rendier”; “Albert”), 30–31, 35–37, 41–43, 45, 52–54, 56–61, 66, 74, 75, 79–80, 84, 92–94, 99–100, 102–3, 112–18, 128–33, 141, 166, 192–93

  escape of, 132–33

  George Starr and, 30–32, 39, 40, 58–60, 84, 93–94, 96–97, 114, 117–18, 129–32, 166

  Robert and, 34, 53, 54, 93–94, 112–13, 130–32, 166

  Wallerand and, 36

  Rowden, Diana (“Paulette”), 88–90, 121, 160

  arrest of, 127

  Royal Air Force (RAF), 11, 17, 22, 82, 83, 116, 121, 135, 137, 150–51, 155, 161, 163, 167, 201, 229

  Royal Navy, 7, 9, 37

  Ruehl, Werner, 122, 151, 224, 258, 260

  Runstedt, Gerd von, 179

  Russia, 5, 55, 56, 128, 134, 159, 210, 225

  Sachsenhausen concentration camp, 224–25, 245–46, 247

  Saint Bernard’s Church, 217

  Saint-Martin Church, 180

  Saint-Michel Prison, 115, 130, 205, 218, 219

  Salerno, 128, 134

  Sansom, Odette, 10–11, 26–28, 66, 73, 79, 160

  arrest of, 118

  George Starr and, 10–11, 26–28, 79

  Sansom, Roy, 11

  Sarfatti, Giacomino Giovanni, 10

  Sarrette, Paul (“Amédée Gontran”), 45, 46, 48, 61, 74, 75

  Scherer, August, 110, 135–36

  Scherer, Ottilie, 110, 149

  Schnurr, Richard, 222, 223, 257, 258

  Schouten, Alfred Maurice, 10

  Schutzstaffel (SS), 89, 90, 104, 105, 120, 173, 193

  Castelnau attacked by, 191–97

  George Starr’s orders to attack, 201–2

  Oradour-sur-Glane residents massacred by, 180, 214

  Seadog, 7–13, 26, 27, 49, 65

  Secret Intelligence Service (SIS; MI6), 17, 255

  ALLIANCE network, 124

  SOE as rival of, 2

  Security Service (MI5), 232, 238, 245, 252, 261

  Sempé, Abel, 82, 172, 202, 216

  Sevenet, Henri Paul (“Rodolphe”), 28, 45–48, 60–61, 75, 117

  George Starr and, 10, 28–29, 30, 31, 40, 46, 48, 58, 60–61, 133

  SOE report on, 60

  Sicherheitsdienst (SD), 56, 64, 67, 71, 78, 89, 105–9, 118, 127, 140, 210

  Avenue Foch headquarters of, see Avenue Foch

  dropping operation and, 208–9

  Funkspiel (radio game) of, 68, 110–11, 120–21, 127, 136, 148–49, 152, 209, 223–24, 260, 262, 267

  John Starr and, 89, 107–9, 119–21, 126–27

  Khan and, 121, 122

  knowledge of SOE operations, 90–91, 107–9, 127, 163–64

  SAS
commandos killed by, 221–24, 256–58

  see also Gestapo

  Sicherheitspolizei (SIPO), 105

  Kommandos der Sicherheitspolizei und SD (KDS), 208

  Shawcross, Hartley, 256

  Sicily, 55, 88, 91, 128, 152

  Silkin, Sam, 240, 241–42

  Solal, Henry, 173–74, 175, 193, 195

  Sorbé, Marius, 99, 131

  Soskice, Frank, 238, 240, 243–44

  Southgate, Maurice (“Hector”), 20–21, 70, 144, 161–64, 190, 191, 233, 250, 252

  Soviet Union, 5, 55, 56, 128, 134, 159, 210, 225

  Spain:

  Bloch’s trip to, 73–75

  civil war in, 17, 18, 158–59, 228

  escapes to, 57–58, 61, 84, 92, 116, 133, 141, 145–47, 157, 212, 218

  George Starr’s family in, 18, 19, 27, 53, 61, 77, 101, 232, 236

  Germany and, 17, 75, 158

  Special Air Services (SAS), 209, 221–24, 256–58

  Special Operations (SO), 199

  Special Operations Executive (SOE), 5

  ACROBAT circuit, 69, 88, 90, 107–8, 150, 151

  Baker Street headquarters of, 2

  Beaulieu training school of, 20, 232–35, 237–39, 244

  CARTE circuit, 12, 13, 23, 25, 28, 74

  commando course of, 8

  creation of, 1

  cyanide pills carried by agents of, 9, 97–98

  DETECTIVE circuit, 25, 46

  disbanding of, 255

  DONKEYMAN circuit, 11

  escape network of, 61

  first agent smuggled into France, 3

  French Section (F-Section) of, 2–4, 13–14, 22, 25

  George Starr promoted by, 133, 155, 211

  George Starr’s joining of, 20, 21

  HEADMASTER circuit, 145

  John Starr promoted by, 24

  John Starr’s contravention of procedures of, 77

  John Starr’s joining of, 20

  John Starr’s training with, 20, 22

  PHYSICIAN circuit, 104–5, 107, 109, 121, 140

  PIMENTO circuit, 49, 172, 178

  PRUNUS circuit, 48, 50, 51, 56, 61–63, 66, 78

  RACKETEER circuit, 166

  SD’s knowledge of operations of, 90–91, 107–9, 127, 163–64

  secrecy of, 1, 2

  sections of, 2

  SIS as rival of, 2

  SPINDLE circuit, 66, 78, 118

  STATIONER circuit, 70, 144, 162

  teams, couriers, and circuits of, 3

  training at, 20–22

  VENTRILOQUIST circuit, 10, 78, 145

  WHEELWRIGHT circuit, see WHEELWRIGHT circuit

  S-Phone, 25, 41–43, 51, 60, 72, 77, 129, 151, 259

  SPINDLE circuit, 66, 78, 118

  Stalin, Joseph, 55

  Starr, Alfred (son of George), 17, 18, 19, 101, 232, 236

  Starr, Ethel (daughter of John), 17, 18, 19, 25, 249, 253

  Starr, George Reginald (“Hilaire”), 3, 4, 5, 14, 39–54, 56–66, 69, 70, 72–80, 84–86, 91–97, 99–100, 112–18, 128–35, 141–47, 148, 151–58, 164–68, 169–88, 200–202, 204–8, 210–20, 227, 228–45, 262, 268

  achievements of, 165, 168

  background of, 8, 16–17

  at Beaulieu, 232–35, 237–39, 244

  birth of, 16

  Bloch and, 46–48, 73–77

  British Army joined by, 17

  Buckmaster and, 30, 39, 169, 173, 204, 232, 235–37, 242, 255, 267

  Camilo and, 158–59

  and capture of Gestapo agents, 206–8, 233–35, 238–40, 243–44

  in Castelnau, 31–33, 39–54, 56, 58, 60, 72, 80, 82, 113–15, 117, 133, 153, 154, 169–77, 180, 181, 183–84, 186, 242

  in Castelnau battle, 191–97, 240, 244

  character of, 8, 12–13, 16, 27, 40

  Cormeau and, 97, 101–3, 112, 115, 152–54, 186, 198–99, 201–2, 211, 235–36

  court of enquiry on, 238–45, 263, 266

  D-Day and, 44, 84–86, 88, 133, 153, 154, 166–68, 169–75, 197, 200

  death of, 267

  declares himself as Colonel Hilaire, 172–73

  de Gaulle and, 229–31, 232, 236, 253

  deliveries of arms and supplies to, 40–43, 45, 60, 79–81, 82, 84, 91–92, 201–2

  in Estang battle, 204–5

  executions by, 183

  explosives and demolition work of, 9, 21–22, 25, 38, 42, 56, 79–80, 83, 133, 134, 135, 141–42, 155, 156, 167

  family history of, 15–16

  Fuller and, 199–200

  as Gaston the Belgian, 40, 53–54, 112, 172–73

  Gaucher’s arrest and, 93–95

  German Heinkel aircraft and, 229

  German retreats and, 206, 216

  German sergeant and, 198–99

  Hollywood Brigade of, 183–84, 187, 191, 195

  John’s meeting of, at Port-Miou, 12–14, 25

  John’s postwar meeting with, 249

  lecture given by, 233–38, 240, 244

  marriage to Pilar, 17

  medals awarded to, 135, 236, 253, 267

  messaging rules of, 44–45, 48, 74

  mining experience of, 8, 16–17, 18, 21–22, 40, 141, 253

  ordered to attack SS and Wehrmacht forces, 201–2

  Parisot’s death and, 227–28, 232

  physical appearance of, 8, 12–13, 31, 40, 79, 101, 143

  priests and, 83

  prisoners and, 186–87, 192, 194, 196, 202, 207–8, 213, 217–18, 233–35, 238–40, 243–44

  recruiting method of, 44

  report on his work in France, 232, 242, 249

  return to England, 231–32

  Robert and, 33, 38, 39, 53, 54, 72–73, 114, 115, 130

  Rouneau and, 30–32, 39, 40, 58–60, 84, 93–94, 96–97, 114, 117–18, 129–32, 166

  Sansom and, 10–11, 26–28, 79

  on Seadog, 8–12, 27

  Sevenet and, 10, 28–29, 30, 31, 40, 46, 48, 58, 60–61, 133

  SOE joined by, 20, 21

  SOE’s promotions of, 133, 155, 211

  spies and traitors and, 181–83, 188

  torture allegations against, 213, 233–45

  Toulouse liberation and, 219–20, 228–29, 244

  Walters and, 142–47, 153, 165–66, 181, 185, 186, 201, 211–13, 236, 237

  Walters’ allegations against, 213, 237, 238, 241, 245

  WHEELWRIGHT circuit of, 38, 44, 45, 56, 57, 62, 66, 78, 80, 86, 93, 113, 115, 129, 152, 159, 165, 168, 234, 237

  Starr, Georgina Ethel Margarita (daughter of George), 17, 18, 19, 101, 232, 236

  George’s letter to, 254–55

  Starr, John Ashford Renshaw (“Emile”; “Bob”), 3–4, 5, 14, 51, 69–71, 76–77, 87–91, 232–33, 245–53, 255

  accusations against, 250–53, 258–67

  arrest of, 89–90

  as artist, 17, 20, 108, 120, 126–27, 225, 253

  at avenue Foch, 105–11, 118–21, 123–27, 136–40, 148–52, 160–65, 190, 191, 210, 220–21, 224, 245, 249–52, 257–67

  background of, 16, 17

  barber and, 152

  birth of, 16

  birthday of, 220, 221

  British Army joined by, 17, 18

  Buckmaster and, 263, 264, 266, 267

  character of, 12–13, 16

  Christmas cards drawn by, 151–52

  in concentration camps, 224–25, 245–48, 250, 260

  cooperation with captors, 107–9, 119–20, 150–51, 249–53, 258–67

  death of, 267

  deployed to France, 22–24

  family history of, 15–16

  on field outings w
ith Germans, 150–51, 259–60

  in Field Security Police, 18–20

  at Fresnes Prison, 104–5, 108

  Funkspiel (radio game) and, 110–11, 120–21, 127, 136, 148–49, 223, 260, 262, 267

  George’s meeting of, at Port-Miou, 12–14, 25

  George’s postwar meeting with, 249

  indictment and investigation of, 262–67

  interrogation of, 90–91, 106

  Khan and, 123–25, 136–39, 148, 252, 259, 263, 265–66

  Kieffer’s portrait commission and, 120, 126–27, 136, 138

  at Kieffer’s trial, 257–58

  maps drawn by, 107–9, 119–20, 149, 164, 259

  marriage to Michelle, 17

  Martin and, 87, 89, 90, 160, 260

  Newton brothers and, 20, 119, 250–51, 253

  nightclub opened by, 253

  Ottilie Scherer and, 149

  physical appearance of, 12–13, 17

  in prison, 90–91, 104–11, 118–21, 123–27, 136–40, 148–52, 160–65, 190, 191, 210, 211, 220–21, 224, 245, 249–52, 257–67

  prison escape attempted by, 124–27, 136–40, 148, 149, 252, 259, 262, 263, 265–66

  promise not to escape, 139–40, 148, 150, 224

  Rabinovitch and, 157–58

  Rée and, 87

  relationship with captors, 149

  report written by, 248–50

  resettlement in Paris, 253

  restaurant outing of, 149–50, 259, 260

  return to England, 248–49

  return to Paris, 247–48

  SD and, 89, 107–9, 119–21, 126–27

  on Seadog, 13

  SOE joined by, 20

  SOE procedures contravened by, 77

  SOE’s promotion of, 24

  SOE training of, 20, 22

  Southgate and, 20–21, 161–64, 190, 250, 252

  zazou disguise of, 24, 152

  Starr, Lionel (son of John), 76, 77, 253

  Starr, Michelle Vergetas (wife of John), 17–19, 76, 77, 248, 253, 262, 267

  Starr, Pilar Canudos Ristol (wife of George), 17–19, 27, 53, 61, 77, 101, 232, 236, 254

  STATIONER circuit, 70, 144, 162

  Stauffenberg, Claus Schenk von, 210

  Stonehouse, Brian, 27, 28, 46, 119

  Stork, Josef, 135–36, 208, 209, 221–23

  Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), 171, 179, 201, 214, 215

  Suttill, Francis, 104, 107, 121, 140

  Swiss Red Cross, 247

  Taesch, Serge, 208, 213

  Talès, Laurent, 83, 172, 200

  Tarbes, 206, 216, 218

  Team Bugatti, 199

  Termignon, Gabriel, 217–18, 244

  They Fought Alone: The True Story of SOE’s Agents in Wartime France (Buckmaster), see Buckmaster, Maurice

 

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