European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Jedburgh elite teams fought behind the line by de Reavis staff writer Baron Albert de Schonen a retired French Diplomat fought with the underground against the nazi occupation of his native country in a particularly dangerous Way. He belonged to an elite group of american British and French commandos called a a Jedburgh a or a a a a eds for Short. A the Beds ideally worked in groups of three a one american French and British r who were dropped behind the enemy lines to Surprise sabotage and disappear a de Schonen said. Speaking from his Paris apartment the 81-year-old de Schonen said he was looking Forward to the Jedburgh reunion to be held in , France from june 4-9. A a we re expecting More than 120 people a former Beds and their families. It will probably be our last big reunion a de Schonen said. He said although it was difficult to pinpoint who invented the concept when a general Eisenhower took command of the Western front he saw the need to Settle the rivalries Between the various groups of the French resistance or the Maquis As it was called. The British american joint Enterprise special Force Headquarters was formed for this e Schonen said Beds were trained to face i any situation that might occur a a brains and legs we called their training in England took six months and they were taught the use of explosives All types of arms Morse code and silent killing de Schonen said. To put some semblance of order in the situation and to coordinate the actions of the resistance the Jed teams parachuted in each equipped with a radio to report Back to London just what weapons were really needed. The Parachute drops began in 1944 in Brittany and the South of France. The teams spread out Over the entire country. Jed teams dropped in Brittany and were even sent in As reinforcements to the Vosges and Jura Mountain regions to organize mobilization of the Maquis there and harass the retreating German units with hit and run attacks on their depots. A not one of the 115 teams failed to accomplish its Mission and some were dropped into Germany and Northern Italy a he said. A in fact our Man in Italy captured an entire division. They wanted to surrender to him but he did no to know what to do with them and let them go. It was fantastic a de Schonen said the origin of the name is a bit obscure. A Jedburgh is the name of a town in South Africa where during the Boer War infiltration of the enemy lines by soldiers was first implemented. It is also the name of a town in Scotland but i done to know who thought to apply fit a French resistance Leader briefs his team before a raid on a German installation in France. A amps Rod Jedburgh Albert de Schonen. The name to the de Schonen said it was very important that the Beds wore their uniforms As As possible As a psychological boost. Quot it was a Shock for most people to see an officer in full uniform parachuting behind the enemy lines a he said. A they were very enthusiastic about us. We were their link with London. A we lived with the Maquis. It was very difficult Day to Day living. Particularly setting up communication from one group to after the a ranches breakout de Schonen said it. Gen. George s. Patton or. Decided to Send a Force to Brest to avoid being vulnerable to a German attack from the rear. He gave orders to Gen. Pierre Koenig the newly designated chief of the Maquis for the Maquis to preserve the Bridges and roads in Brittany while sabotaging the germans so his mechanized. Armoured Force could move quickly. It was carried out de Schonen said. De Schonen said he met Patton and briefed him on Jed operations during the fighting. In the Allied breakout advancing British and american troops would meet with Jed teams who gave them valuable information about the situation they a face for the next 40 or 50 Kilometres. De Schonen said he jumped twice into France the first time with a British radio operator and a British officer into Brittany. He also was sent to Eastern France near the Vosges mountains. A lot of germans were there. C c t was or8anz is an ambush when they i caught us in an ambush and i was Al wounded a he said. A at the time i was with the journalist David Astor later manager of the London observer. When we were hiding behind some Bushes he turned to me and said a when we get to a Hospital Well discuss the politics of All a de Schonen and Astor were Able to Hook up with american troops in the South of France and de Schonen was evacuated to an american Hospital in Naples. A the americans saved my life. Every morning for three months i read stars and stripes for my of the 115 French Beds 85 parachuted into France 22 of them were killed a shot by the germans As spies the rest remained in England he said. Of the 82 americans on Jed teams 53 received the distinguished service Cross the Croix de Guerre the legion of Merit the Silver Star the Bronze Star or the purple heart. The French and British participants were similarly honoured. Mong the Jed alumni were members of the French and British parliaments lawyers pastors seven generals two ambassadors numerous colonels and senior government officials. After the War de Schonen organized an noncommissioned officer and officer training program along Jed lines because he said it worked better than the traditional French training. A we tried it in Indochina and in Laos a he said a the people treated them Well in Laos but they caught hell in Vietnam a badly treated by the for the future de Schonen said if there is conventional War some form of the Jed concept will always be necessary. A there will always be a need for information coordinated sabotage and an underground network feeding intelligence Back to Headquarters to help in decision making a he said. June 6, 1994 a stars and stripes commemorative edition 21
