• 5 •

So Fair and Foul a Day I Have Not Seen*

Luxembourg was still for the most part asleep as I drove home through the rapidly increasing light of a perfect spring day. While I made a more complete toilet than had been practicable three hours before, my servants prepared a substantial breakfast to which I had hardly done justice when Mr. Arthur Pauwels, clerk in the consular section of the legation and a lieutenant in the Royal Belgian Army, appeared to say that German bicyclists were coming into the city, the skeleton advance-guard of the invading hordes. He said that he would like to return to Belgium, if at all possible, to place himself at the disposition of his king and country. Although this would deprive me of a greatly needed aid, just at the time when I could have used twenty capable clerks, I could not deny him.

I ordered the car brought out and told my cook to get a certain number on the telephone.1 As she handed me the receiver she saw a spider, called my attention to it, and immediately, to my horror, killed the insect. I told her that she should have known better, citing the old proverb: “Spider in the morning, trouble and cares,” and that she need not have shared her evil sight with me.2 Furthermore, she should have known that to kill a spider brings very bad luck. The car was now ready, and I took Mr. Pauwels to the railway station along roads rapidly filling with German soldiers. However, as I had expected, at the station we were told that no trains were allowed to depart in any direction.3

I now drove to the Grand Ducal Ministry of State—the Foreign Office—and said a few words of comfort and cheer to the Honorable Albert Wehrer, secretary general of the government and Luxembourg chargé d’affaires at Berlin, who had been commissioned to head a government of administration after the departure of the Sovereign and Her cabinet. Mr. Wehrer told me that he had convoked the Parliament for nine o’clock that day, and would place before it for approval the names of himself and the undersecretaries in the cabinet to act as a legal business government for carrying on routine business until the return of the government of Monsieur Dupong.4

The German minister, Baron Otto von Radowitz, had just called at the Foreign Office to present an “ultimatum,” after the invasion by German troops. This ridiculous document in effect stated that the government of the Reich, faithful to its promise to respect the neutrality, territorial integrity, and independence of the Grand Duchy, found it necessary to occupy the country to carry out its obligations, having “trustworthy information” that England and France were planning to attack Germany through Belgian and Dutch territory. If no opposition were offered to the invaders, Germany solemnly “assured the Grand Ducal government of Luxembourg that Germany had no intention of violating the territorial integrity and the political independence of the Grand Duchy by her measures, either now, or in the future,” and guaranteed the dynasty, the constitution, and the people’s independence. A further clause guaranteed the “overseas possessions” of the Grand Duchy. The slightest resistance, however, would be followed by the immediate annihilation of country and population!5

Monsieur Wehrer stated that he was not in a position to answer this note, in the absence of the Government, with whom he would endeavor to get in contact. In the meantime, however, he solemnly protested against this cynical violation of Luxembourg neutrality—a neutrality that had been doubly guaranteed by the German government. A high German officer now called to discuss “urgent matters” with Monsieur Wehrer. I brought my visit to a close, after assuring Monsieur Wehrer of my sympathy and placing myself at this constant disposition for any official or unofficial services I might properly render.

The French Legation is only a block and a half from the Foreign Office, and I looked in to assure myself that all was in order along the lines upon which Monsieur Tripier and I had agreed before his departure. To my surprise I found the French Minister in his study conversing over the long distance telephone with the Quai d’Orsay in Paris! An employee in the Office of Posts Telephones and Telegraphs had put him through to Paris at 7:38 a.m., after the Germans were in occupation and in control of the post office, and had kept the connection open for some fifteen minutes. The Minister waved his greeting, and told Paris that I was now with him and had taken over the Legation and French interests in the Grand Duchy according to plan.6 Monsieur Tripier explained to me that he had followed Monsieur Bech toward the French frontier, but had been turned back by German parachutists armed with machine guns. Ordered to get out of his car and walk back to Luxembourg, the Minister explained that he had lost a leg in the last war, and showed that he could not walk such a distance. The parachutists then allowed him to return in his automobile.7

The stairway leading to my legation chancery was filled, and the hallway packed with a motley crowd of Americans and Jewish refugees seeking “protection” against horrors already vivid in their imagination, but which were not actually to come for some months.8 I quieted them as best I could, thanked heaven that Clerk Pauwels had not been able to return to Brussels, and found a once valuable woman clerk so excited by the events as to be useless.9 She could not get over the fact that she had washed her hair and that it was in disorder. She simply must, at such a time, with all these soldiers about, have a “permanent wave.” Suppose someone saw her like that! Realizing that it was useless to argue with her, I told her to go in peace to the hairdresser and have her wants attended to, but added that I did not share her conviction that any beauty shop would minister to her that day.

I now visited Baron Kervyn de Meerendré, the Belgian minister, and his wife for a few minutes. They were just getting out of their automobile, having, like Monsieur Tripier, been turned back by German parachutists. I was to call several times during the day upon the Belgians and the French, who were naturally most anxious that I hasten their return to their respective countries.10

I looked in again at the chancery and stood on the balcony facing the Grand’rue, where for a time I watched the interminable flow of the gray-green river of German troops. I noted that they marched not in fours but in threes, and were as fresh and bright as if on parade. I do not recall that they sang that morning. Luxembourgers on the sidewalks looked on in impotent rage and hatred, not unmixed with fear. It is a terrible experience, which I pray God you may never undergo, to stand by helpless and see your city calmly taken over by the troops of a nation you loath, a nation devoted to the destruction of all that you hold holy, beautiful, and good.

One smart Luxembourg gendarme in his colorful and immaculate uniform was still on point duty, directing traffic at the cross roads where the Rue de la Porte Neuve runs into the Grand’rue. He was holding up the German Army for the trams, and they were obeying his smartly executed gestures! I looked on as if in a dream. It could not be true, the whole nightmare, and the gendarme on the corner gave just the touch of unreality to clinch the phantasmagoric quality of it all. I thought of the sentry at Pompeii.11 But as I watched, the gendarme received orders from his own superiors to leave traffic direction to the Germans, and he disappeared.

Shortly after this I made my way through troop-filled streets to the German Legation to protest against a certain action by the Germans against the representative of one of the nations with whose interests I was charged.12 Von Radowitz was not at his chancery, but the counsellor, Count Thun von Hohenstein, received me courteously in his own office. We tried to talk about other things, anything other than that which was burning in our consciousness. Presently the Italian minister came in, also to see the minister. Our talk became still more aimless and, if possible, more senseless. Then Baron von Radowitz entered, and Tamburini, the Italian, popped up and said: “All my congratulations, my dear colleague, on this day’s magnificent achievement!”

The German minister, who detested his Italian colleague, replied in disgusted tones: “Don’t congratulate me on this affair.”

Tamburini retorted: “Accept my condolences then.”

“I don’t want your condolences either,” responded von Radowitz. Then turning to me, “My dear Waller, did you want to see me? Come into my study. I am entirely at your disposition.”13

And so saying, he led me into his private office, where I told him freely what was on my mind. He cordially agreed to do what he could, although he said that he now had but little power. After the arrival of the military his legation was but a “fifth wheel,” as he expressed it. However, he expressed his intention so long as he stayed there to cooperate with me insofar as might be possible in protecting the interests of Americans, French, Belgians, British, and . . . Luxembourgers!

The German minister then gravely asked me if I knew where Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess was. I said I did not, but sincerely trusted that She and the Grand Ducal family were safely in some country where they would not fall into the hands of the Germans.

“I deeply deplore Her departure,” said von Radowitz, “and I fear that it may have terrible consequences for Luxembourg and the dynasty.”

My blood ran cold as he continued: “The German government and High Command had worked everything out in advance for Her comfort and dignity. She would have remained in the Castle of Berg, as in a sort of Vatican, the estate would have been guarded by Her own army, and She need not have seen a single German officer or soldier at any time. The German government is greatly disappointed by Her departure and deeply hurt and pained at this obvious indication of Her Royal Highness’s lack of trust and confidence in the German Reich. Why should She leave Her country and fly for ‘protection’ to our enemies? This action indicates a lack of confidence in Germany and a distrust of our Leader’s pledges which I am afraid will have the gravest consequences.”

This was the first time I heard what was to be repeated parrot-like by German officers and other officials for days and days, and was evidently the mot d’ordre worked out that morning after the Germans had found that the Sovereign had slipped from their clutches. The variant expressed by the higher military officers was said, with lowered voice, and deep respect:

“The Army is deeply pained at this affront by the Sovereign. We wanted this opportunity of showing the Ritterlichkeit (chivalry or knightliness) of the German Army, which would have prided itself upon its unselfish protection of a lady in distress and would never have forced itself upon Her attention uninvited. You would be surprised and touched if you could know how carefully all our plans had been worked out for Her happiness and comfort. The Army can accept this affront with dignity, but it is to be feared that the Party will punish the country for the actions of its ruler.”

For some time after this, when German soldiers would ask Luxembourg shopkeepers or waiters—the only persons who conversed with Germans except under compulsion—where their Sovereign was, they would often get the reply: “In our hearts.”

But I am still in the private office of Herr von Radowitz. He was obviously laboring under a terrible strain, and as he spoke to me he looked the very sick man that he was. He took to his bed a day or two later. After various “cures” and other treatment in Germany, he died sometime in the autumn. That he died of a broken heart, occasioned by the brutality of the Germans in Luxembourg, I will not say. However, I do believe that he loathed the role he had to play. I know he had remnants of honor, some shame, and, however dimly, could perceive the eternal difference between right and wrong.

1*Spoken by Macbeth, act 1, scene 3 in the Shakespearean drama of that name.

. Probably a call to Albert Wehrer, to whom Waller was to deliver certain messages from Minister Bech. One, however, for reasons of propriety and modesty: “to consult me in any difficult problems and be guided by my advice,” the chargé omitted. See Waller to State, 15 July 1940, File 123 W154/371 RG59 NARA.

2. “Spinne am Morgen bringt Kummer und Sorgen.”

3. On 10 May only very early trains taking steel workers and miners to the 6 am shift in southwestern Luxembourg had circulated briefly before all rail service was halted by the Germans.

4. According to Wehrer, pre-invasion plans had never been finalized, and together with the President of the Chamber, M. Reuter, he summoned the Chamber to authorize a Commission de Gouvernement (later Commission administrative). Wehrer, Aide-mémoire, 4–5. See also Luxembourg (Grand Duchy), Mémorial des Grossherzogthums Luxemburg = Mémorial du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, no. 31 (30 May 1940): 325. Available on-line at http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/index.php.

5. Waller thought the text was probably a paraphrase of the telegram received by von Radowitz from Ribbentrop; for the official text dated 9 May 1940, see DGFP, ser. D, vol. 9, no. 215, 306–7. The memorandum to Belgium and The Netherlands contained more hostile language: see ibid., no. 214, 301–6.

6. Some months earlier Waller had reported loaning to the Belgian and French ministers “appropriate flags for immediate hoisting when and if events move too quickly.” Waller to State, 8 February 1940, #136, File 124.2 RG84 NARA. The American flag had indeed been raised at the French legation, see Waller to State, 15 July 1940, File 123 W154/371 RG59 NARA.

7. See Tripier’s report contained in Robert Murphy, Paris, to State, 28 June 1940, #6682, File 704.5150A/11 RG 59 NARA.

8. In a steady crescendo since Kristallnacht desperate refugees had been attending the legation seeking the safe haven represented by visas to the United States.

9. Probably Miss Eleanor Klein, long-time clerk at the Legation, who was suspected of having some sympathy toward the invaders. For such innuendos, see Georges Heisbourg, Le gouvernement luxembourgeois en exil (Luxembourg: Imprimerie Saint-Paul, 1987), 2:106 and also Léon N. Nilles, “Ermesinde V-Frau des SD,” Lëtzebuerger Journal 42 (3 November 1989): 11. See also her brother’s defense of her: Francis Klein, Luxembourg, to Victor Bodson, Minister of Justice, Luxembourg, 7 October 1944, File 123 RG84 NARA.

10. At the Belgian legation, 9 rue du Prince, the American flag had also been raised. See Kervyn de Meerendré to Waller, 10 May 1940, #2645–1361, File 704 RG84 NARA. Baronne Kervyn’s memory of that day is to be found in Koch-Kent, 10 mai 1940, 158–59.

11. This illustration of the ideal of discipline called to mind the portrait “Faithful unto death” by the Victorian artist Edward Poynter, depicting an incident prominent in two popular novels: Bulwer-Lytton’s The Last Days of Pompeii (New York: Heritage, 1957), 489–90, and Mark Twain’s Innocents Abroad; Roughing It (New York: Library of America, 1984), 264–65.

12. Waller came to 22, avenue Emmanuel Servais (since 1947, the United States legation, now embassy), to protest the violation by German troops of the French legation, “over which the United States flag was already flying.” See Tripier’s description of this intrusion and Waller’s protest in Bullitt, Paris, to State, T #875, 25 May 1940, File 123W154/353 RG59 NARA; see also Waller to State, 15 July 1940, File 123W154/371 RG59 NARA. The incursion was finally resolved a few days later by the handing over of the French legation premises to the American chargé by German military authorities. See Uebergabeprotokoll, Luxembourg, 13 May 1940, signed by Waller, Niebuhr, and Mommsen, File 704 RG84 NARA.

13. This less than collegial exchange was later recounted to the Grand Duchess; see Georges Heisbourg, ed., “H. R. Madol et le Luxembourg: Extraits de son journal” 58, no. 3 Hémecht (2006): 353.