The Chalet School In Exile
Synopsis
The story is set at the beginning of the Second World War, when Germany wishes to absorb Austria into the Third Reich, and both the Chalet School and the Sonnalpe come under threat.
To postpone problems, Dr. Jem purchases a large Hotel up at the Sonnalpe, and moves the School up during half term. This is a very satisfactory temporary measure, because it means that the Annexe can be mixed in with the School for the first time. However, matters progress in a very worrying fashion, and nearly half the pupils of the school are withdrawn; some, because their parents are afraid; others, the German and Austrian pupils, are told to leave by the Gestapo. Dr. Jem decides to take the school right away to the Channel Islands.
The girls, saddened by the fact that so many of their friends are having to leave, form The Chalet School Peace League, to be signed by staff and past pupils as well as current. Having done this, they decide it must be hidden in a very safe place, and go to do so, in the company of Dr. Jack Maynard. But they are followed by Frau Eigen and her son, Hermann. While in the middle of a game of hide and seek, Robin and Hilary Burn try to hide the document in 'Robin's Cave', but Hermann nearly catches them and they have to leave by another route.
As a result of this, the Gestapo try to take all the girls involved, and also Dr. Maynard. The British Consul steps in to save the girls, but Jack has an uncomfortable week in Innsbruck before he is finally released. Jem decides to send Jack and some of the girls home early, but before he has a chance to do so, Miss Wilson, Joey, Robin, Daisy and some others go into Innsbruck and fall foul of a Nazi mob. They have to run for it with the help of the local priest and wind up in 'Robin's Cave' through an underground passage.
Flight is the only thing possible and, joined by Jack Maynard and Gottfried Mensch, they decide to try for the Belsornia border. However, Robin is recognised, and the party make a run for Switzerland, disguised as peasants, where they are taken in by Gottfried's Aunt, and are thus safe.
The second part opens on Guernsey, some few months later. Madge and Jo decide to restart the school in an old house called Sarres, and with the help of many of the original staff, they begin with about fifty pupils, among them the elder Lucys, Chesters and Ozannes. The Fourth form start chaos almost immediately, but are squashed by a visiting mistress they considered 'safe'.
A new girl causes worry, especially when she runs away, and the death of an old mistress saddens everyone. However, the biggest shock the school has ever had is caused by Jo, and a downed German plane causes injury for certain prefects, just as the school has an outbreak of German Measles. At the end, one of Jo's best friends and two other people escape from Austria and come to join them, bringing with them the one thing that Jo values the most.
contributed by Julia Chantrell, England __ working from a paperback edition
If you want to find out more, click on Spoilers
As the link suggests, it gives more of the story - without, of course
giving everything away!