Need wheat harvest dates on Channel Coast in 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Trying to interpret photo of Do17 next to a field with many wheat (US term) or corn (British term) shocks (stacks of grain stalks) at harvest time. This was probably taken on the Channel Coast during the BoB. I was born and raised in Kansas, USA, the "Wheat State," so I know that the harvest varies to some degree with weather, and also depends on the type of wheat and when it was planted. Does anyone know approximately when the wheat/corn harvest time would have been on the French side of the Channel Coast in 1940?

Thanx,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[frankiestein]

Hi......... Well a ball park window, which should be about right would be late august, say 20th to 31st. or a few days into september even.This is around the average time traditionally, dependant on weather conditions. Yes Corn crops have changed a lot since then, but from what Ive seen,the harvesting times remain around the same,unless theres been a hot summer with plenty of early rain maybe. I live surrounded by Corn fields 3 miles from the coast.many differences in the grain crops,are for disease/pest resistance/shorter stems for less wind damage, longer growing times/earlier planting times..... etc & many other variants, but harvesting is & was usually in that 10-14 day window.
Hope this narrows your search a little. someone who has farming records going back from then could confirm, but bear in mind, because a farmer had many fields, doesnt always mean he would have many employees or machines/horses so the harvest could take a while to gather, especially when a WAR is happening overhead! Consequently some farmers cut a while before/after others, but they would usually all drop into this time slot. If your search for details still fails, try going back & forward one day at a time from the guide dates mentioned.
Good Luck! let us know if your search is successful! all the best to you!

[CJE]

A hard to answer question.
Just dug up this photograph depicting harvest time (blé/corn/wheat) in July 1940, but in South-Western France (near Lourdes). Don't know if on the Channel coast they reaped at the same time.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier..._Candaouan.JPG

Chris

[frankiestein]

Hi again! found a photo of southern england corn cutting on the 26th august 1940, approx 50 miles north of here (Essex) so my date prediction looks to have been about right 20th-31st for this region as Id hoped. so maybe you should search within this date-frame for starters widening as you go!! praps if you send the photo it will help. I found several Do17 crash-landing pics,on the net,some in fields, but none yet 'next to a cornfield' as you describe......... The 'Sheaves' are what 'Shocks' are called in the uk, have to stand a while before gathering so that widens the dates forwards a little too.so mid aug-early sept is the time frame. Dover is only 26 miles from Calais & the weather/temperatures are much the same in that part of France to this part of England, getting warmer the further south you go in France.

[ahafan]

Hello'
well 3/JG2 pilots had to make a airfield themselves, late june 40..
Franz Javinish, was the first to land, he made it ok.wheat field 3 feet high.
then others followed him..but could not take off again..then a truck came. they rolled not cut the wheat..
Beaumont le Roger was the home of 3/JG2 for the next 4 years.
Sharon

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Thanx to you all. This is exactly what I wanted to know. Unfortunately, I can't post the photo as the source has restrictions on doing so.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[frankiestein]

Hi Larry ! Did you find the date ok for the aircarft photo you had? out of interest what was the date if you found it?? regards frankiestein

[jschreiber]

Hello

According to German sources (Lagebericht des Militärbefehlshaber), the harvest occured in the North of France during the last week of August 1940 and in the first week of September. This was later as usual, but the lack of manpower, despite heavy POW involvment, and not so good meteorological conditions explain that.

Regards

J Schreiber

[frankiestein]

Hello! Thats great I was right with my predicted dates then! especially with less than enthusiastic pows helping, with little incentive to work fast, and as they may have been able to see 'home' from the French field they were forced to work in eh!