In the early morning of June 30, 1940, the German army landed on the British Channel Islands, the only British territory to be occupied by the Nazis during World War II. The inhabitants of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and Sark woke up to the sound of airplanes and the sight of enemy soldiers on their shores. The five-year occupation that followed would be a time of hardship, oppression, and resistance for the islanders.
The occupation began with the German army quickly establishing control over the islands. The Islanders were given an ultimatum: they could either swear loyalty to the Nazis or face imprisonment. Some chose to cooperate with the occupiers, believing that this would make their lives easier. Others refused to collaborate and chose to resist the occupation, even at the cost of their lives.
The Germans established their headquarters in Jersey and began to fortify the islands against possible British counter-attacks. They constructed bunkers, gun emplacements, and anti-tank barriers, turning the islands into a heavily fortified military zone. The Islanders were forced to work for the occupiers, building the fortifications, repairing the roads, and working on the farms.
But the occupation was not just about fortifications and forced labor. It was also about daily life, with the islanders struggling to survive in a world that had been turned upside down. Food was scarce, and rationing was introduced, leading to long queues and black market trading. The Islanders had to learn to live with curfews, identity cards, and censorship. Even their newspapers were taken over by the Nazis, who used them as propaganda tools.
As the war progressed, life for the Islanders became even harder. The Germans began to deport people to concentration camps, including many of the Jewish and Romani inhabitants of the islands. Resistance groups emerged, and there were acts of sabotage and espionage. The Germans responded with repression, torture, and executions. But even in the face of such brutality, the Islanders continued to resist. The occupation ended on May 9, 1945, when the German forces surrendered.
The Islanders had survived five years of occupation, but at a high cost. Over 1000 islanders had been deported to camps, and 126 had died. The islands themselves had been heavily damaged by the war, with many buildings destroyed or damaged beyond repair. During the German occupation of the British Channel Islands, many civilians were subjected to horrific treatment by the occupying forces. Here are some stories from interviews with victims:
One woman recounted how her family’s home was seized by German soldiers and turned into a military hospital. She and her family were forced to sleep in the cellar, while the soldiers drank and smoked in their living room. They were eventually able to regain their home after the war, but it had been badly damaged.
A man described how he was arrested and imprisoned by the Germans for being part of a resistance group. He was subjected to brutal interrogation and was nearly executed, but was ultimately released due to lack of evidence. He lived in fear for the rest of the occupation, constantly worried that he would be re-arrested and executed.
Another woman spoke about how her family was forced to evacuate their home and move to a smaller, less comfortable house so that German officers could occupy their home. They were only able to return to their home after the war, but it had been stripped of all its valuables.
A man described how he witnessed the execution of his neighbor, who had been accused of harboring escaped prisoners of war. The man was shot in front of his family and the entire neighborhood, and his body was left in the street as a warning to others.
A woman told the story of how she and her family were forced to give up their beloved dog to the German soldiers who wanted to train him for military purposes. They never saw their dog again and the woman still gets emotional when she thinks about it.
Another man spoke about how his family’s bakery was taken over by the German army and all of their equipment and supplies were confiscated. The family struggled to make ends meet during the occupation and were only able to reopen their bakery after the war.
A young girl shared her memories of hiding with her family in a small, cramped attic space for weeks during a German search for resistance fighters. They were forced to stay silent and still for hours on end, afraid that even the slightest noise would give them away.
A man recounted how he witnessed the deportation of his Jewish neighbors to concentration camps. He remembered the tears and screams of their children and the sense of despair and helplessness he felt at not being able to save them.
Another woman shared how she and her family had to resort to eating grass and weeds during the final months of the occupation due to severe food shortages. They would spend hours foraging for anything edible and were constantly hungry and malnourished.
A man spoke about his experience of being forced to work as a laborer for the German army, enduring long hours and dangerous conditions with little pay or recognition. He still bears the scars of injuries sustained while working in a factory.
These stories, and many others like them, illustrate the horrors of life under German occupation and the incredible resilience of the people who lived through it. Despite the repression and violence they endured, many civilians were able to find ways to resist and fight back against their oppressors, often at great personal risk.
In conclusion, the story of the Channel Islands under German occupation is a complex one, with heroes and villains on both sides. The Islanders had to make difficult choices, and many paid the price for their decisions. But throughout the occupation, there were acts of heroism, compassion, and defiance. The story of the occupation is one of ordinary people living through extraordinary times, and it is a story that deserves to be told and remembered.
