Channel Islands: Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark

by George Forty

The only part of the British Isles that can answer the question 'What was it like to be invaded and occupied in World War 2?’ are the holiday islands of Jersey, Alderney, Guernsey and Sark. Left undefended in 1940, they fell like ripe plums into German hands.

Thereafter they were turned into the most heavily defended parts of the Nazi Atlantic Wall, with massive fortifications, gun emplacements and underground storage tunnels. An army of foreign 'slave workers' was brought in as well as the 27,000 German troops (known as the 'Canada Division' as it was widely assumed that they would eventually become POWs!)

Amid the routine of occupation came periods of danger and action from raiding parties. After D-Day the German garrison was cut off and 'the Hunger winter' resulted. In May 1945 the Germans surrendered amid much rejoicing.

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2002

About the author

George Forty was a British Army officer who was the chief of staff at the gunnery school at the Royal Armoured Corps. He was later a director of the Tank Museum at Bovington.

Forty was a military historian and had written numerous books on military vehicles with a focus on armoured warfare.

Reviews

[JD · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read with good, but limited, information of the Channel Islands during World War 2. It has a good collections of photographs.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, brief, overview of the occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War - a teaser for those wanting to dig into greater detail, and just enough for those with a passing interest.

The final chapter covers the sites and museums to visit - largely still accurate though one or two no longer exist. The restored sites in particular are usually only accessible on specific Sunday’s. Important to check online for more up to date information. Could do with an update, but a useful book none the less.

[Glenn Town · Rating 3 out of 5]

So interesting