Defiant Diplomat: George Platt Waller: American Consul in Nazi-Occupied Luxembourg, 1939–1941 (Good Answers To Tough Questions)

"Drafted while events were fresh in his mind in 1942-1943, Alabama-born American diplomat George Platt Waller's memoir chronicles his war-time experience in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg ... he recalls the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the 'Phony War, ' the German invasion of May 10, 1940, and the Wehrmacht occupation. Intimately involved with the political and public life of this small democratic nation, Waller did not follow Grand Duchess Charlotte and her government into exile. Instead, he remained as long as he could to witness and champion the Luxembourg people, doing his best to rescue the flood of refugees seeking visas and asylum in the United States. Waller bitterly condemns the Nazi civilian administration, its oppressive racial laws, and its attempts to annex the country to Germany under the banner of Heim ins Reich. From his pivotal position as dean of the diplomatic community, representative of the powerful United States; and trusted confidant of leaders, executives, and citizens alike, Waller was privy to information from a wide range of sources: government, military, the church, the professions, the resistance, ordinary people, and refugees. He narrates gripping accounts of individual initiative and courage and exposes the many official hindrances to the timely rescue of refugees. His observations shed new light on life in Luxembourg from 1939 to 1941, when he was finally expelled from the country. The editors' introduction places this brief but highly significant memoir in the context of Waller's family background, education, and career, including his dramatic return to Luxembourg at its liberation by American troops in 1944 and his participation in the Grand Duchy's postwar renaissance"--Page 4 of cover.;Ante-chamber to paradise -- Thunder on the Moselle -- The Sitz-Krieg -- The evening of the ninth of May -- So fair and foul a day I have not seen -- General Gullmann calls -- The diplomats depart -- Belgium after the surrender -- German generals toast the president -- I become consul -- A visit from the R.A.F. -- Pack und Gesindel -- The Volksdeutsche Bewegung -- Cologne -- Persecution of Luxembourg Jews -- The curé of Moersdorf -- The Gauleiter embarks on educational reform -- Into the dustbin with d'Gëlle Fra, the army, and the law -- It's not so simple : exchanging French for German -- Underground organizations -- The nine o'clock mass -- Cologne revisited -- The comforter of the afflicted -- In sure and certain hope. Drafted While Events Were Fresh In His Mind In 1942-1943, Alabama-born American Diplomat George Platt Waller's Memoir Chronicles His War-time Experience In The Grand Duchy Of Luxembourg. In Vivid Prose, He Recalls The Outbreak Of World War Ii In September 1939, The Phony War, The German Invasion Of May 10, 1940, And The Wehrmacht Occupation. Intimately Involved With The Political And Public Life Of This Small Democratic Nation, Waller Did Not Follow Grand Duchess Charlotte And Her Government Into Exile. Instead, He Remained As Long As He Could To Witness And Champion The Luxembourg People, Doing His Best To Rescue The Flood Of Refugees Seeking Visas And Asylum In The United States. Waller Bitterly Condemns The Nazi Civilian Administration, Its Oppressive Racial Laws, And Its Attempts To Annex The Country To Germany Under The Banner Of Heim Ins Reich. From His Pivotal Position As Dean Of The Diplomatic Community, Representative Of The Powerful United States; And Trusted Confidant Of Leaders, Executives, And Citizens Alike, Waller Was Privy To Information From A Wide Range Of Sources: Government, Military, The Church, The Professions, The Resistance, Ordinary People, And Refugees. He Narrates Gripping Accounts Of Individual Initiative And Courage And Exposes The Many Official Hindrances To The Timely Rescue Of Refugees. His Observations Shed New Light On Life In Luxembourg From 1939 To 1941, When He Was Finally Expelled From The Country. The Editors' Introduction Places This Brief But Highly Significant Memoir In The Context Of Waller's Family Background, Education, And Career, Including His Dramatic Return To Luxembourg At Its Liberation By American Troops In 1944 And His Participation In The Grand Duchy's Postwar Renaissance. Extensive Annotations And Photographs Complement The Text.--publisher's Website. Ante-chamber To Paradise -- Thunder On The Moselle -- The Sitz-krieg -- The Evening Of The Ninth Of May -- So Fair And Foul A Day I Have Not Seen -- General Gullmann Calls -- The Diplomats Depart -- Belgium After The Surrender -- German Generals Toast The President -- I Become Consul -- A Visit From The R.a.f. -- Pack Und Gesindel -- The Volksdeutsche Bewegung -- Cologne -- Persecution Of Luxembourg Jews -- The Curé Of Moersdorf -- The Gauleiter Embarks On Educational Reform -- Into The Dustbin With The Gölle Fra, The Army, And The Law -- It's Not So Simple, French To German -- Underground Organizations -- The Nine O'clock Mass -- Cologne Revisited -- The Comforter Of The Afflicted -- In Sure And Certain Hope. Edited By Willard Allen Fletcher And Jean Tucker Fletcher. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Annotation Drafted while events were fresh in his mind in 1942 1943, Alabama-born American diplomat George Platt Waller s memoir chronicles his war-time experience in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In vivid prose, he recalls the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the Phony War, the German invasion of May 10, 1940, and the Wehrmacht occupation. Intimately involved with the political and public life of this small democratic nation, Waller did not follow Grand Duchess Charlotte and her government into exile. Instead, he remained as long as he could to witness and champion the Luxembourg people, doing his best to rescue the flood of refugees seeking visas and asylum in the United States. Waller bitterly condemns the Nazi civilian administration, its oppressive racial laws, and its attempts to annex the country to Germany under the banner of Heim ins Reich. From his pivotal position as dean of the diplomatic community, representative of the powerful United States; and trusted confidant of leaders, executives, and citizens alike, Waller was privy to information from a wide range of sources: government, military, the church, the professions, the resistance, ordinary people, and refugees. He narrates gripping accounts of individual initiative and courage and exposes the many official hindrances to the timely rescue of refugees. His observations shed new light on life in Luxembourg from 1939 to 1941, when he was finally expelled from the country. The editors introduction places this brief but highly significant memoir in the context of Waller s family background, education, and career, including his dramatic return to Luxembourg at its liberation by American troops in 1944 and his participation in the Grand Duchy s postwar renaissance. Extensive annotations and photographs complement the text." Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Foreword 14 Editors’ Introduction 18 They Never Found A Quisling 36 Preface 40 Chapter 1. Ante-Chamber to Paradise 42 Chapter 2. Thunder on the Moselle 48 Chapter 3. The Sitz-Krieg 52 Chapter 4. The Evening of the Ninth of May 62 Chapter 5. So Fair and Foul a Day I Have Not Seen 68 Chapter 6. General Gullmann Calls 74 Chapter 7. The Diplomats Depart 82 Chapter 8. Belgium after the Surrender 90 Chapter 9. German Generals Toast the President 98 Chapter 10. I Become Consul 102 Chapter 11. A Visit from the R.A.F. 110 Chapter 12. Pack und Gesindel 118 Chapter 13. The Volksdeutsche Bewegung 124 Chapter 14. Cologne 146 Chapter 15. Persecution of Luxembourg Jews 152 Chapter 16. The Curé of Moersdorf 162 Chapter 17. The Gauleiter Embarkson Education Reform 168 Chapter 18. Into the Dustbin with d’Gëlle Fra, the Army, and the Law 174 Chapter 19. It’s Not So Simple—Exchanging French for German 180 Chapter 20. Underground Organizations 184 Chapter 21. The Nine O’Clock Mass 188 Chapter 22. Cologne Revisited 192 Chapter 23. The Comforter of the Afflicted 200 Chapter 24. In Sure and Certain Hope 206 Epilogue 226 Editors’ Afterword 232 Abbreviations 250 Bibliography 252 Index 266 About the Editors 272 "American diplomat George Platt Waller's memoir of his experiences in Luxembourg from 1939-1941 reveals the plight of a small neutral country invaded by Nazi Germany. His vivid account of the response of Luxembourgers to war and occupation and his own efforts to help refugees offers a compelling story of witness and resistance to evil in the Second World War."--Provided by publisher