King George VI had been living in U.S. exile since 1940 against his will. After the German occupation of France, he had gone abroad to rally military support. However, he failed to persuade the isolationists that a united fight against Germany was naturally in the interest of freedom-loving peoples around the world. During George VI’s sojourn abroad, Berlin surprisingly launched Operation Sea Lion (for our report, cp. 1940 issue) and rapidly seized control of Great Britain.

Over the following years, the rigorous control of British air space by the Luftwaffe and the naval blockade by the German submarine fleet made it impossible for the monarch to return to his home country. He often expressed his deep regret at the separation from his people during the hard days and weeks of the war. The German Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda unsuccessfully tried to discredit the monarch by claiming he had fled the country in disgraced fear of the advancing army. The population, of course, did not believe these infamous lies.

Britain and the world have lost a great man. In an official state act, the U.S. President commemorated the dead monarch. The German occupational forces promptly imposed a curfew throughout Great Britain to prevent public mourning.