FRANCE BEFORE D DAY

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24536, 9 April 1945, Page 3

FRANCE BEFORE D DA Y

♦ : NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN’S. - IMPRESSIONS “France before D Day” was idfr-7 , .scribed , by - Flight Lieutenant-F.‘ H. ■ Greenaway (who has now returned *to New' Zealand after spending sonie ; ume > > ■* in hiding with the kssistjance of French r patriots) in, a national broadcast;'lastevening. The foo4 -of; the'Frenpb unchsr • •* German occupation' consisted, largeiy 'Of_ vegetable' soup,.and dry .bread.' nmole , v from' potato' or/ horse-chesUmt flottn ; Sometimes it was possible "to rabbit or chicken, but it almost'm-. evitably -transpired - made to the black market Frequently’ £3 per lb was-paid for butteri/and * cheese sold at 30s'per lb. Poverty swas. generally the* reason .whidhtjpre- . vented the ■ people from ’ black markets, ‘t ~_'■ •* i One of thn;greatestsingje blows.oni, Sthd frottl/waa the' -do--/,, ' portion ■ ofStttousands s otfniett tdljafew* 5 ’ in Germany* The Germans eopld.hfrve . Frhtjce busßy the . they; calciftated -to redhce,; the, birth- * <■/ ratefof thel jiehiairppnuiafidnj Lieutenant .Greenaway .said, How- ;'.; ever; hundreds-," "escaped' through./; Switzerland and Spain id ' join ,me : Fighting • French- m > North - , Flight LieutenantvG 1 - General- de-GaWle higlf- regard by .'pir v: popular.' 'iThey # ChUfchilK -i j* • •/* »r-- ,'W >»<:>. .5 . Most bftfie’ ftvnch'people were,-loyal »', anafflottmHhdUstods’of wdyslto.iUake soldiers of the German anny. dt.bccu- f*: ’ patron wish they had never left- Qer- - . many.; The French police nnd.fctviLsers,2, , vice" did' of the French Underground- ]- / , .