11-08-2025
The puppy rescued from the Nazis on D-Day: Heartwarming story of German Shepherd-cross Spandau after he was found hiding under bodies of enemy machine gunners by British war hero
The heartwarming story of a British war hero who adopted a puppy after his German owner was killed on D-Day and cared for him for the rest of his life can be revealed.
Trooper Donald Wakefield discovered the pet hidden underneath the body of the enemy soldier after his unit wiped out a German gun emplacement with no survivors.
He and his colleagues took pity on the German shepherd-Airedale terrier cross and named him Spandau.
The pet accompanied the unit through Normandy becoming a good luck mascot as the Allied forces marched westwards towards Germany.
At the end of the Second World War, Trooper Wakefield remained stationed in Germany, so he became Spandau's official owner.
Whilst there, he met his wife Erika and they returned to Britain together with Spandau when he left the Army in 1947.
The dog first had to spend three months in quarantine before joining them in Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire.
Spandau, who was largely known as Span, lived for another 13 years.
He played in the front garden with Trooper Wakefield's young son and developed a taste for John Bull beer.
He died aged 16 in 1960 and his story is being told for the first time 65 years on by Trooper Wakefield's family, who are selling his wartime mementos.
Trooper Wakefield's son, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: 'After my dad rescued Spandau he survived the rest of the war and went on to become our beloved family dog.
'As soon as dad saved him he became very much his dog.
'How he stayed with him during his time in France and Germany I'll never know, but squaddies are nothing if not resourceful.
'Who knows what would have happened to Spandau without my dad.
'There was no doubt he was going to bring him home with him.
'By the time I was a baby, Span would have been 14.
'We had a big front garden and there are photos of me playing with him.
'By all accounts he was a great dog, very loyal, and even developed a taste for John Bull beer.'
When Spandau died, he was buried underneath the willow tree of the family home in Derby.
A photo of Spandau was tucked in Trooper Wakefield's wartime diary, which charts the progress of The Westminster Dragoons, Royal Tank Regiment, throughout 1944.
The first half of the diary covers his gruelling training as final preparations were made for Operation Overlord.
He then recounts the moment on June 6, 1944, when he lands near Cherbourg on Sword Beach.
He writes: 'On move to French coast. H Hour 7.25, landing near Cherbourg .. slight gun raid, two shot down.'
That evening, he writes that he was 'unable to sleep owing to an air attack, two near misses'.
A Squadron had orders to push inland along with the tanks of the Staffordshire Yeomanry.
June 8 saw more more enemy air activity with 'plenty of flak'.
He was attacked by aircraft and his unit had moved back to the coast.
Later entries describe an attack on St Nicholas farm at Fontenay-Le-Pesnel.
The entries become shorter as he becomes embroiled in heavier fighting.
His son added: 'Dad didn't talk much about his experiences in the war and when he did I was only funny anecdotes, never any of the horrors he must have seen.
'It will be difficult to see this collection go but it is a part of history and deserves to be fully appreciated rather than just kept in a shoebox at home.'
Trooper Wakefield's archive, which also includes his medals, beret and collar badge, is being sold at Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbys.
Hansons Auctioneers' militaria expert Matt Crowson said: 'It is a real story of triumph over adversity.
'For Spandau to have been taken into the care of a brave British soldier, who protected him throughout the rest of the war before giving him a loving home in the UK, is testimony to the character of Trooper Wakefield.
'Aside from his bravery at D-Day, this story will bring a lump to the throat of every dog lover.
'The diary is quite 'matter of fact' with entries relating to air attacks, comrades being killed or injured, and simple little things like acquiring eggs to make a breakfast.
'Men like these would have endured unimaginable horror at times, but Trooper Wakefield noted them down like they were an everyday occurrence.'
Trooper Wakefield died in Derbyshire in 2008.
