§ Mr. Harrisonasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will institute inquiries into the complaint of W. Quad-beck, Verden-Aller, Zollstr., 20 Province Hanover, Germany, who complains of the seizure of his home and the removal of his furniture for use of the Field Security Section, this notwithstanding that the complainant and his family have a record of anti-Nazism and in the same town are a number of pro-Nazis who have not been inconvenienced.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has considered particulars which have been sent to him concerning the seizure by a British unit of a house in Germany and the removal of personal belongings when the unit moved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. Hynd,pursuant to his replies [OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th February, Vol. 433, Col. 27; and 12th February, Vol. 433, Col. 353], supplied the following statement
I have had inquiries made into the circumstances attending the requisitioning of the house and furniture of W. Quadbeck of 20, Zollstrasse, Verden. The requisitioning took place when British troops first entered Verden. Hostilities were still in progress, and it was not then possible to examine the political associations of individual Germans. Subsequent enquiries, however, have failed to produce any evidence that Quadbeck or his family either actively supported or opposed the Nazis, although they appear to have lived more comfortably and prosperously than the average German under the Nazi regime.
The house with some of its furniture was orginally requisitioned for use as a billet and an office for a Field Security Section. Quadbeck was, however, 249W allowed to keep much of his best furniture which he moved to a cottage in his garden for his own use. He retained his stables to accommodate, not himself and his family, but his horses. In June, 1946, Quadbeck obtained the authority of the Town Major for the de-requisitioning of three of the rooms in the house. These he proceeded to occupy.
Later the Field Security Unit were re-organised into an intelligence team with increased staff, and in September, 1946, their accommodation proved inadequate. In order to avoid additional requisitioning, it was decided to exchange accommodation with the Kreis Regional Officer who was using a nearby house as an office. This arrangement did not affect Quadbeck's occupation of his three rooms and cottage. Since the intelligence team were using their accommodation as an office and a billet, it was necessary to exchange furniture as well as accommodation. Quadbeck was consulted about these arrangements, and made no objection.
Quadbeck is far more comfortably housed than most Germans and, indeed, than many British families now in Germany. He has been kept fully informed of the disposition of his property. When his house is finally de-requisitioned there is every reason to suppose that his furniture will be restored to him at the same time. As is proved by the successful application he has already made, Quadbeck is well aware of the proper procedure to be followed in submitting any well-founded claim."