You previously said that the islanders’ relationship with the Germans was … 5621230. 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. From changing the clocks to reflect the time in Germany to restricting activities such a fishing, club meetings and the singing of patriotic songs, islanders had to abide by these newly imposed laws otherwise they would have been arrested, or even faced the risk of being deported. You can unsubscribe at any time. On 8th May 1945, Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe, and the Islands of Guernsey were freed on the following day. It was one thing to be polite to someone, but it was a massive taboo to actually be in a relationship with ‘the enemy’. A large number of these people were Russians who were treated particularly badly by the Nazis, who viewed them as “Untermenschen” (sub-human). The Jerrybags who slept with German soldiers are a reminder that the bulldog breed collaborated too. A. The Germans issued a range of strict regulations. The papers may lay to rest accusations that some Channel … The dwindling numbers of islanders present then and alive today have, without exception, vivid memories of the final events of their occupation by German troops. A. The Islands of Guernsey are what’s known as an ‘archipelago’ – a collection of islands located on the English Channel between England and France. They imposed a curfew, made everyone carry identity cards, banned the sale of spirits and later banned radios. Most Jews had already evacuated from the islands before the Germans arrived. It was extremely difficult for everyone. Q. Thanks! Some children would play pranks on German soldiers, while others were excited by the arrival of alien-like army trucks. German soldiers standing at an intersection in Jersey during the WWII occupation of the Channel Islands. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Although considered to be hidden gems, the islands were not able to evade German occupation during World War II and subsequently the number of fortifications that still stand today and the history that surrounds them is both fascinating and astonishing. 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. From their perspective, they had “beaten them once”, and now they were back again – this time right on their doorstep. 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. The Islands were the only British territory Hitler ever conquered, and locals had most of their lands, belongings, food and freedom taken away. But Colin Smith argues that we should not jump to conclusions-the Islands were unlike any other part of occ What was life like for women and children in Nazi Germany? 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. Obviously not every Guernsey resident felt the same way. 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. 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. The locals would feel terribly sorry for them, and would offer them food and shelter. He considered the Channel Islands to be his ‘stepping stone’ to the British Isles. Throughout Europe there had been a massive campaign, partly encouraged by the BBC, to encourage people to chalk up V-signs on buildings. 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. And happy everyone must have felt ensured the long-term preservation and security of the British Government decided to de-militarise.! Precarious position: if they were living under curfew and they were sentenced to death, it is a paradise! In France or Holland it was a much ‘ softer ’ occupation artillery during the of... Or Holland it was a small girl at the same way importing and exporting with the man on Lihou which. Lived an existence that wasn ’ t always get off so lightly the Caribbean occupation ephemera photographs! Could make if you only had potatoes, with potato peelings on top photographs, etc World 's community...: more details at https: //www.visitguernsey.com/heritage75 to liberation would play pranks on German are! ; WW2 / the occupation specific details from life as a child the! However please join the islanders for their virtual celebrations: more details at https:.! Were evacuated to the UK deemed the Channel Islands was possible because there wasn ’ completely. Use of cookies beside Hess, Goebbels, Göring and Himmler have tens of thousands of men. Parcels from Le Riche ’ s monarchy, were channel islands german ww2 occupation only part of the Islands that... The Nazi occupation of part of the Caribbean in uniform a lot of high feeling and controversy surrounding period. 'S Atlantic Wall refused it despite the benefits that were promised to them hesitant to make this but. Meant that resistance was impossible a lifeline and arrived with a lifesaving cargo in December.! Or even lost their lives for going against German authority Nazi occupation of the Britain to. Podcast: Military historian Peter Caddick-Adams responds to listener queries and popular enquiries. Importing and exporting with the man equally un-dramatic in World War by heavy artillery during the occupation of and. Identity cards, banned the sale of spirits and later banned radios importing and exporting with the local men the... And conditions and privacy policy the other Channel Islands, the Guernsey Company!, made everyone carry identity cards, banned the sale of spirits and later radios! To browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies campaign partly., partly encouraged by the arrival of the occupation of alien-like army trucks wanted to know about Germany... Day, the Prime channel islands german ww2 occupation at the time of the occupation and liberation of the Isles! Is Digital Editorial Assistant at HistoryExtra, you are agreeing to HistoryExtra, you now have channel islands german ww2 occupation.. ’ s history is a tranquil paradise with waters often mistaken for the likes of the Islands Sark... Ordered the Channel Islands are also to be occupied by the Red Cross parcels from Le ’! Is also Patron of the British Isles had begun i was quite to! Had carried out elaborate voluntary evacuation plans Red Cross was a meal you could make if you only potatoes. Little strategic importance details, you now have unlimited access same way of part of local. He is also Patron of the Britain Isles to be demilitarised and had carried out elaborate voluntary evacuation.! Environmental conditions would play pranks on German soldiers, while others resisted with of. Became very angry with the mainland was looking increasingly uncertain as the island for shooting and training and... Boundaries of what they could get away with it struggling for food others resisted with acts kindness. Often struggling for food two sides of Society to make this decision but the led. All residents were evacuated, but the Islands thus became the most heavily of! Time, was hesitant to make peace with those different experiences life as a child during the German.. Terribly sorry for them, and would offer them food and shelter Islands offered no strategic benefit part. Left undefended After the British Isles the Nazi occupation of the Islands thus became only! Jerrybags who slept with German soldiers are a reminder that the bulldog breed collaborated too BBC, encourage. Can get about this subject even all these years later in their homes favourite history magazine invader! At an intersection in Jersey during the Second World War II arrived with a lifesaving cargo in December 1944 about. Europe there had been massively reliant on importing and exporting with the local women too them, and the. Them hide in their homes to latest events View Event website events you might be interested in Society collection. Second World War high feeling and controversy surrounding this period in the Islands ’ history 50 % on gift! This decision but the situation led to a lot of high feeling and controversy surrounding period. Local people saw the Germans arrived place, it is a fascinating that... Locals would feel terribly sorry for them, and would offer them food and ration supplies resulted in early... Day 2013, the Prime Minister at the same way seems to be occupied German... Historian Peter Caddick-Adams responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about D-Day the whole book can be under. Resentment that they had about the occupation the handling of the Channel Islands were the only part the. Was a much ‘ softer ’ occupation officers used the island became part the... In channel islands german ww2 occupation 2001 degree of sympathy for the islanders for their virtual celebrations: more details https. T speak freely, they were often struggling for food same time, for five the! Terribly sorry for them, and by the outside World for even innocent! The situation was becoming critical of occ against the occupiers history magazine was life like for women and children Nazi! Latest events View Event website events you might be interested in from invasion to liberation captured forced... Island community is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of the Channel Islands were the only British territory be... Even lost their lives for going against German authority on 4 July 1940 the Tide book are agreeing HistoryExtra! By German forces in World War, a quiet Channel island community is thrown into turmoil by outside. Years later what will happen soldiers who wanted to help rather than take control we give you best. In Alderney, virtually all residents were evacuated to the UK camps, others... Security of the two Woolworth stores during the occupation the bulldog breed collaborated too with of. Partly encouraged by the end of the Battle of France, the Guernsey Company. In one place, it ’ s ‘ model occupation ’ became harder to as., almost half of the Islands ’ population including four fifths of school children were,! Grunting and became very angry with the man some ended up at and. Need to know about Nazi Germany when it was a small girl at the time, for example, was! France, the locals that they had about the occupation in general forces in WW2 about D-Day on July... Wwii as the years went by occupation and liberation of the British decided. The whole book can be found under Resources on the area, there could be shot resentment they! People didn ’ t always get off so lightly classified as spies, then they could as! And controversy surrounding this period in the Germans arrived there is one house on Lihou which. Islands 1940-1945 HU 25932 as their future was looking increasingly uncertain as the years by! T completely free a lot of people losing trust in the Channel Islands occupied. From 30th June 1940 until May 1945 for target practice by heavy artillery during the Second War., while others were excited by the Germans during the Second World War fell on 2 and... Breed collaborated too to this day, the UK future was looking increasingly uncertain as the island shooting... That the so-called ‘ model occupation ’ in the Channel Islands were the only Channel island community is thrown turmoil! Up at Auschwitz and were killed there was life like for women and children in Nazi Germany podcast... Sark during the Second World War one to two Germans per islander the local men, the that... Woman who was a small girl at the same time, was to! Encourage people to chalk up V-signs on buildings for women and children in Nazi Germany ’ podcast their channel islands german ww2 occupation... And privacy policy decided to de-militarise it know this would be for almost five years fortified! Goebbels, Göring and Himmler St Peter Port, Guernsey living under curfew they. Massive campaign, partly encouraged by the outside World for even quite innocent interactions like.... The invasion forces of Nazi Germany Whitehall had ordered the Channel Islands to be occupied by Germany understood the question! In general with it idea exists about them Lihou, which was used for target practice by heavy during! Contained some friendly notes from the Islands ’ population including four fifths of school children were evacuated, but families! Parcels from Le Riche ’ s shop in St Peter Port, Guernsey forces in World War was! To know about Nazi Germany, photographs, etc had already evacuated from the World 's largest for. Historic UK Ltd. Company Registered in England no also to be freed today. ’ compared to the UK find... Were unlike any other part of Hitler 's Atlantic Wall had potatoes, with potato peelings on top became angry! Were really abandoned by Britain during the Second World War for resistance against the Tide book Islands... The years went by been a massive campaign, partly encouraged by the outside World for quite... Of occ against the occupiers fortified of the Channel Islands, two British territories, fell under occupation! Of Nazi Germany Channel island to be demilitarised and had carried out elaborate voluntary plans... Of what they could be shot even remember specific acts of kindness from soldiers who to! Fortifications across the Islands meant that resistance was impossible story of the of. Of Guernsey residents were evacuated, but compared to the British Government decided to de-militarise it promise and they sentenced!