Hi Folks I have started a blog about the Occupation of the Channel Islands by the Germans 1940-45. Focusing on personal testimonies of people I knew that lived through it and also testimonies of those that I have found in the archives. Hopefully may be of interest to those on this site. Please take a look at Island Fortress Thanks Nick
Hello, There are a few other Channel Island tags and threads, for instance see the tags at the top of this thread... - Channel Islands It is a fascinating topic and one which I think can still bring rewards through research, all the best with your blog etc. Are you based on one of the Channel Islands? Guernsey perhaps? * Rm. guernsey | WW2Talk * Ah - About - apologies - I hadn't read that yet... ;-) I was wondering why it was a blog called "Island Fortress" and not "Island Fortresses" ;-)
Hi Thank you for that. Yes I am based in Guernsey. Some of my family were here during the Occupation whilst the younger family members were off fighting in the forces in the Navy and Army. I have a lot of family testimony plus some newer stuff from the archives that have been released since many books were written. Thanks for your interest. Cheers Nick
Some family on Jersey myself - i.e. see - Jersey Occupation Registration Cards Edit - Alderney too - alderney | WW2Talk Though Herm - missed out :-( .... something there now... herm | WW2Talk ----- x ---- x ----- Herm - Wikipedia http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/11550803/&q=Herm&o=Re
Great stuff, Nick. Enjoyed the articles. (Assuming you're on the case with future Navigation/links to each one, as that's going to be a long old page to scroll through.)
Hi all I am so glad you opened this thread, thank you for the links all very interesting. Just thought I would join in. My family (fathers side) are from Jersey and I have enjoyed visiting all of my life and consider it my second home. My Nan and all the family at the time remained on the island and were there during the Occupation. Of course growing up we were not permitted to ask questions so apart from a few family rumours everything I now know has come from the Jersey Archive. Please see below Nazi occupation card for my lovely Nan to give you an example of the info available and of my Grandfather who I had never seen before as he passed away when my Dad was 2. Can you imagine being able to click on a button and open up pictures of a family you never knew? It truly is incredible! I also have arrest and sentencing documents for my Great uncle and grandfather for provoking a riot on a building site over wages and for being in possession of anti-nazi leaflets Have a look at the Jersey archive website below Jersey Heritage | Discover Our Island Story
Thanks for sharing. Yes I have my Great Grandmothers ID card in family papers. If you fancy writing an article for my blog I would happily post it. I have just posted another blog about a Doctors experience in Guernsey if anyone fancies a read. Finally finished this one last night. Covers quite a lot, including being asked if he wanted to see a German shot after court martial, health of Islanders, the difficulty of being a doctor and more. The English Doctor’s Occupation Story. Dr Richard Sutcliffe.
My parents knew two Guernsey residents, Roger Higgs and his wife (tomato growers long after WW2). Roger had left the island before German occupation, from memory he joined the Royal Navy and only returned after VE-Day. His wife was arrested and deported to a concentration camp, which she survived. My parents lost contact after the 1970's.
Hi Nick I would love to have a go at writing an article for you! I am so proud of my heritage and this would be a pleasure and challenge! I will be in touch! Many thanks Lee
Great stuff Nick. I’ve only had the chance to read this article so far before I turn in, but look forward to reading more. Probably fanciful thinking on my part, but are there any indications that Dr Martel in Enemy At The Door was based on Dr Sutcliffe, do you know? I think the irony of his having a friend named Martel hasn’t helped my thinking there. The liberation footage I’d never seen in its entirety before, many thanks for the link. Fair choked me up watching it I can tell you, daft sod that I am. Such a shame there was no sound recording with it, that would have been quite something.
Lee, The Liberation footage is at the end of the website article on Dr Sutcliffe and is from YouTube (very short 3m 22s):
I watched the extended IWM footage, Lee, a link to which Nick added just under the YouTube clip - the IWM mixes black and white footage with the above colour and is longer at just over 15 minutes. Excellent. LIBERATION SCENES IN ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY AFTER LIBERATION [Allocated Title]
Nick has just published a well researched blog addressing the supposed abandonment by Churchill of the Channel Islands. CHURCHILL ABANDONED THE CHANNEL ISLANDS OR DID HE? - Island Fortress
I bought this interesting book during our 2008 visit to the Channel Islands. Also this interesting card.