The German occupation of the Channel Islands still haunts Britain's image of itself at war. The Islands were the only British territory Hitler ever conquered, and locals had most of their lands, belongings, food and freedom taken away. A. Hitler’s ‘model occupation’ in the Channel Islands was possible because there wasn’t much resistance. was deposited at the Jersey Archive in September 2001. You're now subscribed to our newsletter. Some children would play pranks on German soldiers, while others were excited by the arrival of alien-like army trucks. Towards the end of the war, the question wasn’t whether the allies would win, but whether they would die of starvation before the island could be liberated. Against The Tide book. All five Islands quickly found themselves under German rule, each serving their own purpose for what became known as ‘Hitler’s Island Madness’ as the Channel Islands became the most fortified place in the world. Herm Island, which is only 20 minutes away from Guernsey by ferry, was initially passed by the Germans but was later claimed by the Third Reich on July 20th 1940. Some of them were actively looking for opportunities to form friendly relationships with the locals and to prove that they weren’t the kind of monsters that they had been painted as by Allied propaganda. The SS Vega, a vessel run by the Red Cross was a lifeline and arrived with a lifesaving cargo in December 1944. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Guernsey fell to the Germans without a shot being fired on 30 June 1940, with Jersey falling the following day on 1 July 1940. The smallest of the four main Channel Islands, Sark is located some 80 miles from the south coast of England and only 24 miles from the north coast of France. He greeted her one morning with the usual “Heil Hitler” and she replied: “To hell with Hitler!” She ended up going to prison, but she became a local hero of sorts. On October 3rd 1942, 12 British Commandos of the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) launched ‘Operation BASALT’ raiding Sark Island to capture prisoners and offensive reconnaissance. Rumours had spread through the islands about the ship’s arrival, and emotions were running high as islanders shouted with gratitude and cried with relief once it entered the harbour. They couldn’t speak freely, they were living under curfew and they were often struggling for food. There is a lot of high feeling and controversy surrounding this period in the Islands’ history. Head over to www.visitguernsey.com/heritage75 to browse through the Heritage75 programme and join the Islands of Guernsey in 2020 for a year that is not to be missed! They managed to do a certain amount of trading with France – the Germans actually allowed that – but after D-Day [the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944], they were cut off and began to starve. Q. On this day, 30 th June 1940, the German occupation of the Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Herm and Sark) began. The Germans issued a range of strict regulations. Although the Germans treated the local people reasonably well, they imported slave workers from various European countries to build the fortifications on the island. 9th May is a Bank Holiday on the Islands of Guernsey, and Guernsey’s capital town of St Peter Port comes alive with thousands of people attending parades, firework displays, live music, entertainment and activities for everyone to enjoy. It is also a day of remembrance for those who bravely fought and lost their lives to serve an Island that thousands are proud to call home. It was extremely tough, but compared to the German occupation in France or Holland it was a much ‘softer’ occupation. As a popular place for walking through naturally beautiful surroundings, it is hard to imagine that it was once part of such turbulent times. From themed tours and guided walks to exhibitions, family fun days and exclusive site openings, visitors will be able to delve into a wide range of experiences. Yes, the title of the film is not an exaggeration – potato peel pie really was a dish that people were eating at the time. Sark itself is still a unique time capsule as one of the few remaining places in the world where cars are banned and exploring on foot, by bike or on a horse drawn carriage is the best way to get around. The Islands of Guernsey are what’s known as an ‘archipelago’ – a collection of islands located on the English Channel between England and France. So there was definitely this feeling among the locals that they were judged by the outside world for even quite innocent interactions like that. A. There is one house on Lihou, which was used for target practice by heavy artillery during the Occupation. Around half of the Islands’ population including four fifths of school children were evacuated to the UK. Many of them lived in people’s houses, so if you had a spare room, then you were likely to have a German living with you. The substantial German garrison and small size oif the islands meant that resistance was impossible. Jack Higgins has lived in Jersey for over 30 years, in which time he has taken a special interest in the German Occupation of the Channel Islands. But a couple of Jews did die as a result of the occupation and the impossible new German laws – for example, one man’s shop was forcibly closed and he committed suicide, and another had a mental breakdown. But, many parents tell a different story as their future was looking increasingly uncertain as the years went by. There was a feeling among the islanders who had stayed that the ones who had left had been cowardly, while the ones who had left felt that they had experienced the Blitz and been properly “at war” while their friends and relatives at home had been “making friends” with German soldiers. The Channel Islands, the oldest possession of Britain’s monarchy, were the only British territory occupied by Germany. She had an autograph book that contained some friendly notes from the Germans soldiers she got to know. A German control tower and observation post with radar in St Ouen, Jersey during the German occupation of the Channel Islands, pictured in 1945 (Picture: TopFoto/PA). Some even remember specific acts of kindness from soldiers who wanted to help rather than take control. There are many families living in Guernsey whose parents or grandparents can recall specific details from life as a child during the Occupation. Find out in our ‘Everything you need to know about Nazi Germany’ podcast. She brought with her food and medical supplies. Alderney’s experience of the Occupation was very different to the other Islands, but at just 3 miles long by 1 ½ miles wide, it packs a great deal of history into its modern day visitor offerings with natural trails, military walks, Victorian forts, bunker open days and other annual events and tours. It took a long time for these two sides of society to make peace with those different experiences. And our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today.’. Officers used the Island for shooting and training, and by the end of the Occupation there was only one Guernsey family living there. During the German Occupation of WW2, almost half of Guernsey residents were evacuated, but many families chose to stay. It gives islanders a chance to rejoice in their freedom and reflect on those who had to endure everything that the Occupation brought with it. German invasion After the loss of the Battle of France, the UK deemed the Channel Islands to be of little strategic importance. Speaking your mind could get you into a lot of trouble. Everything you ever wanted to know about... Nazi wives: the women beside Hess, Goebbels, Göring and Himmler. The Nazi occupation of part of the British Isles had begun. 68th Liberation Day 2013, The Guernsey Event Company. Tens of thousands of islanders had been evacuated to Britain just before the Germans arrived on the Channel Islands in 1940, and when they returned there was a difficult period of reintegration. Gallery of photos showing the German occupation of the Channel Islands by the Nazis in World War II Guernsey Island Confirmation World War Two Ww2 Berry Potato Envelope Germany England On 4 July 1940, Ruth Berry, a Guernsey mother who had been evacuated to England, obtained confirmation that her island had been occupied by Germany. Author of The British Channel Islands Under German Occupation 1940-45 A fifth of all the defence works in the so-called Atlantic Wall - a defensive line stretching from the Baltic to the Spanish Frontier - were built on the Channel Islands. Life under Nazi rule: the occupation of the Channel Islands. The smallest of the Islands of Guernsey, called Lihou, is situated just off the west coast of Guernsey and accessed by a causeway at low tide for about two weeks every month. They were in a precarious position: if they were discovered and classified as spies, then they could be shot. While there were a few real Nazis – individuals committed to national socialism and Hitler – the majority of Germans on the island were just ordinary soldiers who wanted to go back to their homes and families. One could say it is a miracle that the remains of the Priory were not completely destroyed as you can still go and see them to this very day. Personalities: Major Friedrich Knackfuss Feldkommandant of the Islands from 1941-1944 standing with an Islander on a promenade in Guernsey Many local people saw the Germans as normal men who had found themselves in uniform. Here, Rachel Dinning talks to Duncan Barrett, author of Hitler's British Isles, to find out what it was like to live under German rule. Thanks! German planes bombed the harbour in Guernsey’s capital parish of St Peter Port after mistaking a group of tomato lorries for a convoy of troop carriers and, after 48 hours, German troops began to land and their flag was raised. The Jersey Channel Islands Occupation Society's collection of Occupation ephemera, photographs, etc. But when you have tens of thousands of young men and women in one place, it’s inevitable what will happen. There seems to be a problem, please try again. Islanders all had different experiences of the war as some sadly lost their lives and loved ones, while others formed civil relationships and found new ways to live with their enemies. About The Channel Islands; Latest information on COVID-19 and travel to Jersey & Guernsey ... German Occupation - Fortifications and Military History Share . The islands had a very high number of German soldiers compared to the civilian population, one soldier for every 2-3 civilians, which reduced options; this linked to the severe penalties imposed by the occupiers meant that only forms of non-lethal resistance were used by the population. But Colin Smith argues that we should not jump to conclusions-the Islands were unlike any other part of occ A. German troops landed on Guernsey on June 30, 1940, on Jersey July 1, on Sark July 3 and on Alderney July 4. A. It was extremely difficult for everyone. People didn’t always get off so lightly. “I don’t have any swines,” he told the German – although he did, in fact, have two pigs hidden in a secret pig sty. This was for two reasons: firstly, Britain didn’t have the resources to fight for the islanders, and the local people had been told not to resist; secondly, the geography of the Channel Islands would have made it very difficult for a potential resistance to hide and organise ­– the islands were very small, flat and easily searched. Location: Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark) Outcome: Operation Green Arrow, the German occupation of the Channel Islands, was achieved swiftly and with few casualties. This was the case for both sides – the Germans could be in trouble for forming relationships with the local women­ too. When the Germans became aware that there were British soldiers on the island, they set an ultimatum: the soldiers were to hand themselves in by a certain date and they would be sent to a prisoner of war camp to live out the remainder of the war in safety. Explore unique wartime history and see the traces the five-year-long occupation left behind, from concrete defences, bunkers and fortifications to a network of underground tunnels. If you subscribe to BBC History Magazine Print or Digital Editions then you can unlock 10 years’ worth of archived history material fully searchable by Topic, Location, Period and Person. https://www.visitguernsey.com/heritage75. This was exemplified in an instance relatively early on, in 1940, when two local Guernsey lads who had signed up to the British Army returned to the island on a reconnaissance mission. With Saskia Reeves, Owen Teale, Julia Ford, Clare Holman. Some ended up in prison or even lost their lives for going against German authority. What was Christmas like in Britain during the Second World War? 16.2km away from Guernsey, Sark residents made the decision to remain and Dame Sybil Hathaway, the Seigneur of the Island, was the main point of contact between residents and German soldiers at the time. Having a relationship with someone from the ‘other side’ was considered much worse than some of the wrongdoings that – to me – seemed more deserving of anger: collaboration, dodgy trading with the Germans, etc. Although there were instances where the people in authority made questionable decisions to keep the peace, you have to remember that everyone was in a very difficult situation and it’s easy to judge actions in hindsight. A. Alderney was the only Channel Island to be evacuated during WWII as the island became part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall. (Public domain) After their liberation in 1945, a silence fell over the islands … Subscribe to latest events View Event Website Events you might be interested in. The German Occupation of Guernsey, Channel Islands Visit Guernsey May 8, 2019 The biggest impact on the Islands during the 20th century was when … In Alderney, virtually all residents were evacuated and this became the most heavily fortified of the Islands. Some were sent to prisons and camps, while others resisted with acts of protest and defiance between 1940 and 1945. The five-year German occupation came to an end on 16 May 1945 and the first day the islanders were able to return to their island on December 15 is known as Homecoming Day, an event still celebrated in Alderney with an annual Bank Holiday. He considered the Channel Islands to be his ‘stepping stone’ to the British Isles. At the same time, for five years the residents lived an existence that wasn’t completely free. Today, it is a tranquil paradise with waters often mistaken for the likes of the Caribbean. However please join the islanders for their virtual celebrations: more details at On May 8th 1945, the Allies celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler’s Reich, formally recognising the end of the Second World War in Europe…. I spoke to a woman whose husband got himself into a rather difficult situation when a German came to his farm to ask how many “swines” he had. Little did they know this would be for almost five years. There was one woman, for example, who was working for a pro-Nazi Swiss chef. Although these were just notes written to a child, she was very worried about showing them to me in case I thought she had been a ‘collaborator’. Rachel Dinning is Digital Editorial Assistant at HistoryExtra, Save over 50% on a gift subscription to their favourite history magazine. Occupied between 1940 and 1945, the islands were the only part of the British Isles the Nazi regime seized. Many of the men who had served in the First World War, and who were perhaps too old to fight in the Second World War, found it difficult to accept the presence of the Germans. Please enter your number below. From 1st April right through until the end of October, 75+ heritage themed events will take place in Guernsey, Herm, Sark, Alderney and Lihou. It was used to practise landing from barges in preparation for the invasion of England, under the guise of shooting a propaganda film called ‘The Invasion of the Isle of Wight’. The Islands of Guernsey are what’s known as an ‘archipelago’ – a collection of islands located on the English Channel between England and France. The Jersey garison alone exceeded 11,500 men. A large number of these people were Russians who were treated particularly badly by the Nazis, who viewed them as “Untermenschen” (sub-human). Guernsey was officially occupied from 30th June 1940 when it was left undefended after the British Government decided to de-militarise it. I interviewed one woman who was a small girl at the time of the occupation. Duncan Barrett is the author of Hitler’s British Isles, which is due to be published by Simon & Schuster in June 2018. Depending on the area, there could be as many as one to two Germans per islander. The mounting pressure on food and ration supplies resulted in the early release of prisoners, but the situation was becoming critical. the occupation and liberation of the channel islands 1940-1945 HU 25932. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It was a meal you could make if you only had potatoes, with potato peelings on top. For 75 years, Liberation Day has and will continue to be celebrated on 9th May, while Sark Island celebrates theirs on the 10th. Dame Sybil Hathaway, Seigneur of Sark during the Occupation. Copyright © Historic UK Ltd. Company Registered in England No. The soldiers did hand themselves in, but the Germans went back on their promise and they were sentenced to death. Alderney celebrates ‘Homecoming Day’ on December 15th as an alternative to Guernsey’s Liberation Day celebrations in May, as the Island required a huge amount of clearing and it operated as a communal farm while order was restored. Those who were discovered to be having these illicit relationships had their heads shaved and were ‘tarred and feathered’ – had liquid tar and feathers poured over them. So if the Germans had invaded Britain, I think people would have been able to fight back in a way that just wasn’t possible on the Channel Islands. How Thomas Becket’s feud with Henry II led to murder, 2020 round-up: we choose our top HistoryExtra podcasts of the year, The great misconceptions of the Second World War, Killing Hitler’s hangman: the dramatic story of Reinhard Heydrich’s assassination, Laurence Rees on the perpetrators of the Holocaust: “What they told us was, at the time, they felt it was the right thing to do”. By entering your details, you are agreeing to HistoryExtra terms and conditions and privacy policy. Islanders collecting Red Cross parcels from Le Riche’s shop in St Peter Port, Guernsey. The Channel Islands, two British territories, fell under German occupation in 1940 during WWII. Most Jews had already evacuated from the islands before the Germans arrived. In Guernsey, three women who were deported ended up at Auschwitz and were killed there. This page tells the story of the two Woolworth stores during the period of German occupation. It is a time to think about how relieved and happy everyone must have felt. The five-year occupation came to an end on 9 May 1945 - Liberation Day, an event still celebrated in Jersey with an annual Bank Holiday. A. I think it helped that the people in charge of the occupation were these German aristocrats who, if anything, were quite suspicious of Hitler and his fascist ideology. While there wasn’t a resistance in the militarised sense of the word, there were definitely moments of rebellion – acts of arson and graffiti, for example. There was humanitarian resistance too. You have successfully linked your account! ‘Hostilities will end officially at one minute after midnight tonight. When the tide is right, you can walk over and explore the abundance of flora and fauna, a Benedictine Priory from the 12th century and a crystal clear Venus Pool. The locals would feel terribly sorry for them, and would offer them food and shelter. Even so, over twenty civilians died for resistance against the occupiers. Although islanders were given work by the Germans, many refused it despite the benefits that were promised to them. I interviewed a man who was involved with tarring at least one of these women, and he told me that the ‘jerrybags’ were considered just as much ‘the enemy’ as the Germans. When the slave workers escaped, locals would often let them hide in their homes. The Germans stationed axsubstantial garrison on the Island. Listen on the podcast: Military historian Peter Caddick-Adams responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about D-Day. In 1940, during the darkest days of World War Two, the evacuation of women, children, the elderly and infirm was ordered from Gibraltar, in order to fortify the Rock…. Thank you for subscribing to HistoryExtra, you now have unlimited access. Years before WWII took hold, the famous French writer Victor Hugo – writer of Les Misérables – called Guernsey home for 15 years in the 1800s and the Island is well-known for its Neolithic remains, ancient dolmens, tales of folklore, cultural traditions, Roman influences, Napoleonic fortifications and so much more. WW2 / The Occupation; WW2 / The Occupation. In Jersey, for example, one physiotherapist hid a Jewish woman in his basement for years while he treated the German soldiers in his consulting room directly above. Guernsey and the other Channel Islands were occupied by German Forces during the Second World War. The attorney general of Guernsey, Ambrose Sherwill, actually referred to it as a ‘model occupation’, which very much captured the essence of what the German authorities were trying to achieve. It was one thing to be polite to someone, but it was a massive taboo to actually be in a relationship with ‘the enemy’. This happened in Guernsey. The pig-owner had to pretend that he hadn’t understood the original question – and luckily, he got away with it. I would also argue that the so-called ‘model occupation’ became harder to sustain as tensions grew and trust began to break down. A. I was quite shocked to hear how angry people can get about this subject even all these years later. The smaller islands of Sark fell on 2 July and Alderney on 4 July 1940. People were always pushing the boundaries of what they could get away with. The Islands politically took on a policy of “passive cooperation.” Fearing a German monopolization of oil, Britain interned German civilians living in Persia in 1941. The papers may lay to rest accusations that some Channel … As 2020 will mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Islands of Guernsey, the festivities will be kept alive for even longer as a special recognition of this. During the Second World War, a quiet channel island community is thrown into turmoil by the invasion forces of Nazi Germany. Although they were granted a last-minute reprieve on Christmas Eve 1940, by this point one of the men’s fathers had already committed suicide. Throughout Europe there had been a massive campaign, partly encouraged by the BBC, to encourage people to chalk up V-signs on buildings. A. I interviewed hundreds of residents for my book, Hitler’s British Isles, and something that came up repeatedly was this idea that “there were Nazis, and there were Germans”. During the German occupation of the Channel Islands, there was limited resistance. In this section you will find: Guernsey Occupied - this is a past exhibition about the occupation in general. A sense of freedom, and the reminder of how truly resilient the islanders of Guernsey were, is what underpins the celebratory atmosphere that runs through all of the festivities. A. The official website for BBC History Magazine, BBC History Revealed and BBC World Histories Magazine, Save over 50% on a BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed gift subscription, Occupied by the Germans between 1940 and 1945, the Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to have been seized by the Nazi regime. From the Publisher We produce a large number of books about the German Occupation of the Channel Islands and this has been our best seller by far. There were people who did denounce their neighbours or became paid informants working directly for the Germans, but it would be unfair to call the vast majority ‘collaborators’.