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WELFARE WORK Fact Sheet: German Occupation of the Channel Islands |
- The occupation of the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm) became a reality after Winston Churchill decided they were indefensible. Their closeness to France meant they could be used as a strategic landing stage for an invasion of Britain.
- On the 30 th June 1940 Guernsey was occupied, followed by Jersey on 1st July, Alderney on the 2 nd July and Sark on the 3 rd July. Many islanders had already chosen to leave the islands in the face of invasion and some 24,000 adults, with many hundreds of children, were evacuated to the mainland.
- The Germans imposed many restrictions on the islanders who were not allowed to communicate with the outside world, except by a 25-word British Red Cross message. They were not allowed to travel outside of the islands, run a car or listen to the radio. On the 20 th December 1941 the death penalty was announced for anyone found keeping pigeons.
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A newspaper notice about the Red Cross message service for Islanders |
- Of the remaining population more than 1000 British-born islanders were deported to Germany, and hundreds were sent to camps across Europe. Those who remained were forced to live side by side with the occupation forces. They lived with restrictions, curfews, censorship and growing shortages of food and clothing, especially after the liberation of northern France cut off supplies to the islands.
- However, by the end of December 1944 the SS Vega, a British Red Cross ship, was able to dock at St Peter Port with supplies and was able to make several more trips.
Distribution of food parcels in Jersey |
- Liberation came on 9 th May 1945 when the German Commander surrendered and British troops landed in St Peter Port, followed three days later by the main liberation party.
HMS Beagle, 9 th May 1945 |
A group from Jersey leaves for London to attend the 1946 Victory Parade |
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