German Propaganda Leaflets dropped

On the night of 19-20 April 1940 a high flying German plane dropped propaganda leaflets over the area around Vezernay.  Frank picked up one of the leaflets and it has survived the past 75 years, faded and torn but an amazing piece of history to hold in your hand.  The Regimental Diary of the 53rd HAA Regiment recorded the following:

Leaflets Dropped around PIP 1; see Appendix K

The diary which is held at the National Archive in Kew has a copy of a similar leaflet at Appendix K, also written in French.

The diary of the 157th HAA Battery records the following:

20/4/40 Considerable enemy activity during night 19-20/4/40.  Leaflets dropped at PIP I and PIP II.  Considerable fire by French AA Batteries.  Indicator rounds fired by PIP I and PIP II at approx. 0635 hours.  Further leaflets dropped by unseen enemy plane flying very high - approx. 1100 hours.

0800 Eight guns ready for action.  Field works and hut building continued on all stations.

The double sided German leaflet, written in French, is attempting to justify the invasion and occupation of Poland in September 1939 by stating that the Polish Army committed atrocities against the ethnic Germans living in Poland.  The subtitle claims 58,000 Germans were killed.  The leaflet is pictured below, front and back.