Abbott, George William (Oral history)

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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Description

Object description

British officer served as agent with F Section, Special Operations Executive in GB and France, 1941-1942; inmate in Fresnes Prison, Paris, France, 2/1942-12/1943; prisoner of war in Oflag IV-C, Colditz Castle, Germany, 12/1943-4/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of period as civilian in France, 1939-1940: decision to stay in France on outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; recruitment as translator with British Expeditionary Force, 11/1939; posting to GB. Recollections of period with F Section, Special Operations Executive in GB, 1941-1942: recruitment; training at STS 5, Wanborough Manor and STS 21, Arisaig House; briefings at Beaulieu; specialist briefings from country section officers; lecture on organisation of Nazi Party from Kim Philby; problems with defective intelligence reports from the field; error on his false papers; question of Special Operations Executive's professionalism; course in industrial sabotage at Station XVII, Brickendonbury Estate, Brickendon; delay in departure for France due to arrest of wireless operator, 10/1941-2/1942. REEL 2 Continues: anxiety over blowing of communication lines and cancellation of Westland Lysander flight. Recollections of capture by Germans as agent with F Section, Special Operations Executive in Brittany, France, 2/1942: landing by motor gunboat off coast of Brittany, 2/1942; awareness of Abwehr agent 'Cat' on reception beach; hiding up and betrayal to Germans by civilian; German intelligence's reaction to his capture; treatment by German police; cover story under interrogation. Aspects of period as inmate in Fresnes Prison, Paris, France, 2/1942-12/1943: arrests among resistance during his period of solitary confinement; failure of Gestapo to secure custody of Abbott from Abwehr. REEL 3 Continues: dispute over custody between Abwehr and Gestapo; prisoner of war status; methods of survival in solitary confinement; conditions in cell, own physical condition; attempts to communicate between prisoners; use of magazine sheets for toilet paper; communication with German guard; question of contemplating suicide; morale. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Oflag IV-C, Colditz Castle, Germany, 12/1943-4/1945: transfer to camp, 12/1943; impressions on arrival at Colditz Castle; conditions; cigarettes; identification cards. REEL 4 Continues: categories for prisoners; decision not to attempt to escape; bribing of guards; relations between nationalities; memories of inmates in camp; opinion of escape attempts; circumstances of liberation of camp, 4/1945; reaction of French prisoners of war to liberation. REEL 5 Continues: reaction to liberation of concentration camps; question of retaliation against Germans; return to GB and debriefing from Maurice Buckmaster. Question of long-term physical and psychological effects of captivity.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Abbott, George William (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1981-04-28
Dimensions: whole: Duration 137, Number Of Items 5
Catalogue number: 4843

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Abbott, George William (Oral history)

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