Mission Summary and Team
Wednesday, 30 April 1941
In Town
- Yann introduced Victor to Oliver Dupont, the garage operator. Dupont was suspicious of him after he mentioned that he had already gotten his papers, said the Germans were friendly, and said that the best way was to live amicably. Yann reassured Dupont, but the mechanic did not seem to trust him too much either.
- Victor then volunteered to inventory the shop (looking useful materials for sabotage, repairing weapons, more making improvised ones).
At the Farm
- Marie Claire alerted the men digging in the basement that some Germans had arrived in a vehicle. While Talon and Millard cleaned up the basement, Simon and Marie Claire met them the door.
- Oberfeldwebel Gottlieb greeted them and instructed them to have everyone on the premises come outside. Simon collected the other two and they lined up outside while the two soldiers went into the house.
- The Oberfeldwebel interrogated the four of them until the soldiers emerged, one of them spoke to the Oberfeldwebel, and the he and the soldier went back inside while the other covered the civilians.
- Question identities – Marie Claire and Simon were engaged. He let her warm up in his truck last December and things took off from there.
When did they arrive? A few days ago. - Where did they come from? Marie Claire, Talon and Millard said they were local. Simon came from La Forêt Domaniale de Rennes at Marie Claire’s request to help get the farm working.
- The Oberfeldwebel emerged with an axe and instructed them that all weapons must be surrendered to the Military Authority. He gave them a copy of the Rules of Occupation. He said that they could petition the commandant to get it back.
- The soldiers gave a cursory search of the barn and then they left.
Simon and Marie Claire then hitched the cart and went into town to register.
In Town
- Jacques observed the town hall from the window of the house. Only a couple of people reported there. He was drinking some tea in the kitchen when there was a banging at the door.
- He opened the door and three German soldiers entered the house.
- Records indicated house was empty Was a hunter. Surrendered his rifle in Lille. Had been traveling looking for work.
- When did they arrive? Only a few days.
- Where did they come from? The others came from Dijon.
- Why are they living together? Convenient. Was looking for lodging. Met the others at the café and they offered him a room.
- The soldier retuned with a scrap 2×4 with nails sticking out of it. He asked Jacques what it was for. He replied that the house was in poor condition, and that it was there when they arrived.
- The soldier appeared to accept his story and ordered him to go to the town hall to get his papers.
- The soldiers then followed him out of the house and went on to the next one.
- He made his way to the town hall. There were two people being interviewed before him, so he was instructed to wait in a side chamber.
- While he was waiting, there was an altercation, and the man was carried off by some soldiers. Then Arnou was summoned to the desk.
- He asks some cursory questions and gives him his documents.
- On the way out, he came upon Antoinette and a young man approaching. She introduced him as Marlon and told him about the blacksmithing opportunity with the farrier. There was something suspicious about Marlon.
- Marlon asked about Arnou’s qualifications. He replied that he had done some steel work, and had assisted with a blacksmith before. He suggested that they all go back to the farrier so Antoinette could introduce him. Arnou noted that Marlon did not want to part with Antoinette and tried to intimidate him.
- Marlon was taken aback and Antoinette suggested that they get their papers as they were in front of the town hall. Marlon said that he had already gotten his, but Arnou did not see him go into the town hall. Marlon instead proposed taking Arnou to meet LeBlanc.
- Marlon then interrogated Arnou about Antoinette. He told the man that she was engaged, and Marlon appeared to be surprised.
- Marlon introduced Arnou to LeBlanc. He learned through LeBlanc that Marlon was deemed ineligible for military service. LeBlanc inquired about Arnou’s skills and he was modest. The farrier asked Arnou to demonstrate his abilities. He made a respectable show of blacksmithing for his first try.
- With that Marlon left. Arnou suspected that he might be a cultist.