FOCUS: The wartime history of the Mayfair Hotel

Thursday 21 October 2021

As the Mayfair Hotel gets ready to close its doors for the final time at the end of its month, Express reflects on its Occupation history as a soldiers' hangout, escaped workers' hideout and lovers' meeting place...

On Saturday 5 July 1941, the German occupying forces opened the first of several Soldatenheims in Jersey at the Mayfair Hotel.

The origins of the Soldatenheims (Soldiers Homes) date back to Germany in the early 1900s.

The purpose was to provide a safe recreational establishment where German Service personnel could have a hot meal, relax with their comrades, read and write to their loved ones.

It was realised during the First World War how important the role of a Soldatenheim was for the purpose of morale and providing a safe haven for frontline troops.

Many were established in France and Belgium, providing a brief respite from the horrors of the trenches.

Pictured: The purpose was to provide a safe recreational establishment where German Service personnel could have a hot meal with their comrades.

The British had created a similar establishment in 1921, which was the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute, abbreviated to ‘NAAFI’, but on a smaller scale.

By the beginning of World War II, the Soldatenheims were seen much more than just a morale booster - they were used heavily for propaganda purposes and were established on a much larger scale.

Soon after Paris had been occupied, no fewer than five Soldatenheims had been established in the city, with many more appearing throughout occupied Europe. 

These Soldiers Homes were run by fully qualified nurses from the German Red Cross, known as DRK (Deutsche Rote Kreuz) nurses.

More than 600,000 DRK nurses were working in various roles during WWII, from working in Soldatenheims to tending wounded service personnel, taking care of Prisoners of War, and helping in air raid shelters.

Pictured: Soldatenheims were used heavily for propaganda purposes and were established on a much larger scale

There was a strict code of conduct for the nurses - they were not permitted to wear lipstick or nail varnish, and if they had long hair, it had to be tied back in a bun. 

On 14 May 1941, the Field Commandant, Colonel Schumacher, wrote to the Bailiff, Alexander Coutanche, stating that he intended to open the Mayfair Hotel as a home for soldiers in Jersey.

However, as the hotel had not been used for some time, some preliminary work would be required before the home could be opened. This included the removal of rubbish, repairs to the electrics, central heating, the gas supply, hot and cold water and installation of radiators in the rooms.

The estimate for these repairs came to £457, which equates to approximately £21,000 in today’s money.

The German authorities originally agreed to pay, but it appears they may have changed their minds and told the States of Jersey to foot the bill.

Just a few days prior to the Soldatenheim opening, another request was sent to the local authorities, asking that, along with a daily supply of 5 litres of unskimmed milk, 20 litres of skimmed milk and 2kg of butter, a regular supply of vegetables, fresh fish and a monthly supply of 6,000 eggs be delivered to the Mayfair Hotel each month.

Pictured: Nurses were not permitted to wear lipstick or nail varnish and if they had long hair, it had to be tied back in a bun.

The Mayfair Hotel opened as the first Soldatenheim on Saturday 5 July 1941, and continued as a soldiers home throughout the Occupation. The owner of the hotel at that time was Fred Woodhall. He and his wife were allowed to stay in the top floor flat for the entire Occupation.

From early 1944, Mr Woodhall and his wife harboured two escaped Russian workers and took a huge risk, taking food from the Soldateheim kitchen to feed them.

In March 1944, a young Officer, serving in German air force, visited the soldiers home and met one of the nurses working there and soon they fell in love. With the permission of a General, the couple were married on 21 April 1945.

There was, however, a snag.

The groom had been posted to Guernsey, so the ceremony had to be conducted over the telephone. After the war, the couple had a more formal wedding and returned to Jersey in 1975 to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.

After the success of the first Soldatenheim, a further three Soldatenheims and two Offiziersheims (Officer Homes) were opened in the island, with several opening in Guernsey and in Alderney. 

Although much altered and enlarged since the Occupation, the Mayfair Hotel will always be known to many as the first Soldatenheim in Jersey.