Russian Georgio Kozloff's story of slave camp and escape

“Thank You”

June 19th, 1945
The Story of "George"

On behalf of seventeen Russians who escaped from German prison camps, I offer thanks to the warm hearted people of this Island for the kindness they displayed, very often at grave personal risk. We would like to express our gratitude to the Doctors, especially to Dr. R.N. Mckinstry, and finally to Mrs Gould and her friends whose help to us brought heavy German punishment on their shoulders.

Signed Georgio Kozloff Lieutenant of the Red Army

The above letter expresses the gratitude the young Russians feel for the Islanders. It was written by one who was perhaps the best known of the Russians who escaped from their vile masters. This young man looked exceedingly smart and certainly very happy when we bade him Adieu at the dance given by officers of the Royal Navy at the Fort d’Auvergne on Wednesday last. The following morning he and his countrymen left the Island on the first stage of their journey home.

Kozloff’s Story

The story of Georgio Kozloff , Lieutenant of the Red Army, is much the same as the others we have received: a tale of daring, hardship and suffering many miles from his homeland. What happened to Lieutenant Kosloff before he came to Jersey in October, 1942, would provide sufficient material to fill a book. He was taken prisoner during the fighting around Smolensk in 1941, and after several abortive attempts to escape one of which he was months at liberty, he eventually found himself in Jersey with hundreds of Russian slave labourers.
At Val de la Mare Camp, St Ouen, young Kozloff — he is only 24 — saw many examples of the Todt’s bestial brutality. He saw Germans beat one of his Russian comrades with sticks until the Russian fell unconscious. The next day the Russian was buried. Lieutenant Kozloff himself helped to bury two Russians in the Strangers Cemetery where he thinks sixty six are buried, but the graves of many others are scattered over the land bordering St Ouen’s Bay where the Todt guards buried their victims as they murdered them.
After one unsuccessful escape attempt Kozloff was confined for three days in a hole in which he could neither see, lie down, or sleep. During the whole of that time he was given no food only occasional drinks of boiled water. The next time he broke camp he made good his escape. After spending three months in a house in Waterworks Valley, during which time he lived by battering with farmers soap he had stolen from the Todt. Kozloff was befriended by Mr. W. Sarre of Clifton, Millbrook, Mrs Metcalfe and Mr Forster of 7 Trinity Gardens. Eventually Mr. W.J. Ryan the Irish builder who was mentioned in the “Sunday Dispatch” as giving hospitality to an escaped Russian, provided this young Russian with a cottage in Colombus Street, and he lived there until the Islands liberation 18 months later.
Unlike some of his fellow countrymen who had preferred to stay in the country, George Kozloff did not remain in hiding. He was frequently to be seen about the streets, and last summer one of his favourite haunts was the J.S.C. Bathing Pool, where he soon became a proficient diver. He had a host of friend, who several times saved him from the Gestapo. Once when he was at the Plaza dance Kozloff found himself sitting at the next table to one occupied by a certain Wolff, a name once dreaded in many Island homes. During that time Kosloff used many aliases: at one time he was George Stone, of Chelsea; another occasion he became John Wood, and then he was a Dutchman J. Van Dayn. Addressed to many friends who helped him Lieutenant Kozloff has asked the “Evening Post” to publish the following letter:-

These lines addressed to the kind friends who have helped me. I take this opportunity to thank all and everyone who helped me and whom I shared dangerous days as a fugitive from our mutual enemies. Indeed splendid people are living in this charming Isle. I am proud to know you. For ever I will remember the time spent with you in difficulties, adversity and at last happiness.

Yours very gratefully — Georgio Kozloff alias Stone, Wood and J. Van Dayn.

Edited details from the Occupation Memorial website: http://www.thisisjersey.com/hmd/html/slaveworkers.html^{About links}

Georgio Kozloff was an engaging fellow and a constant headache to those who sheltered him. Somehow an identity card was obtained for him and this enabled him to get a ration book. He lived in the cottage alone and was later employed to work very hard by a black-market butcher.

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In "Shadow of the Swastika" by Francis Le Sueur he mentions an escaped slave worker that can only be "George" and that he sheltered him in his house "Beauvoir". and Le Sueur writes of "George" "He had an absolute contempt for the Germans and considered himself at least a move ahead of them for most of the time."

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