There's a place in Florida where, on a dark deserted beach in June, 1942, four German saboteurs landed, hoping to disrupt America's efforts in World War II. That beach was Ponte Vedra Beach, a few miles south of Jacksonville, and there wasn't an American in sight to see them or the German U-boat that brought them.
It was only seven months after Pearl Harbor, and the major U.S. contribution to the war effort was industrial production of supplies that supported forces defending themselves against the German war machine.
That industrial effort was strong enough to frustrate the Nazi high command, and the order was given - allegedly by Adolf Hitler himself -- to mount a serious effort to reduce American production.
The four saboteurs, along with four counterparts who landed on Long Island but were quickly captured, were well trained. They had attended a sabotage school near Berlin that taught them about chemistry, incendiaries, explosives, timing devices, secret writing and concealing identity - and made them memorize details about their U.S. targets.
With no one within miles, this place in Florida was the perfect place for the saboteurs to bury explosives they intended to use to blow up U.S. economic targets such as hydroelectric plants, aluminum and magnesium plants, river locks, rail depots, etc. The beach also offered a good place for the four men to bury their uniforms. All four wore German uniforms, or parts of German uniforms, as they came ashore so, if caught, they could be treated as prisoners of war rather than as spies.
Donning civilian clothing, the four set out to fulfill their mission. They made their way to nearby Jacksonville, then went by train to Cincinnati. There, they split up, with two going on to Chicago and the other two to New York City.
But what none of them had counted on was a defector, John Dasch, 39, leader of the four men who had landed on Long Island. All eight men had been born in Germany, but Dasch had spent a year in the U.S. Army. For whatever reason, Dasch called the FBI and all eight men were caught before they could do any damage.
The Germans were tried before a military commission, found guilty and sentenced to death. Six were executed in the District of Columbia jail. Dasch, the songbird, got 30 years; a cohort to whom he confessed his misgivings about the mission, got life in prison. When the war was over, President Truman granted executive clemency to both, and they were deported to Germany.
Today, nearly seven decades later, this place in Florida is far different than it was in 1942. Today, Ponte Vedra Beach is an exclusive playground of the rich and famous. It has 5-star resorts and the world's best golf and tennis facilities. It is home to the top professional organizations of both sports.
On June 17, 1942, the names on the beach were Edward John Kerling, 33; Werner Thiel, 35; Herman Otto Neubauer, 32; and Herbert Hans Haupt, 22.
If you go to this beach today, you might see Tim Tebow, Fred Funk, Vijay Singh, Mark Brunnell, Connie Fletcher, Kim Alexis or Frank Kickliter - all Ponte Vedra Beach residents.
The eight saboteurs - those on Long Island and those in this place in Florida - were given $175,200 to finance their activities. When arrested, they had $174,588 left, having spent $612 for clothing, meals, lodging and travel - and $260 for a bribe.
Copyright (c) 2009 Gene Ingle, an award-winning editor-writer-cartographer, is an expert on places to see in Florida. He has driven nearly a million miles in Florida researching places on maps you probably never heard of. This place in Florida is one of 213 featured in 'The Famous Florida Trivia Game' available free at http://www.ebookserendipity.com - Test your knowledge of Florida - free. |  |
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