Life in Occupied Guernsey: The Diaries of Ruth Ozanne 1940-1945

by William Parker

The diaries of Ruth Ozanne give us a remarkable eyewitness account of daily life during the German occupation of Guernsey from 1940 to 1945. At the beginning of the occupation, there is an atmosphere of good-humoured defiance on the Island. The relatively few German soldiers are on their best behaviour and the Islanders are bolstered by a stream of optimistic rumours. Life gradually darkens, however, as vastly more arms and troops arrive, supported by Organisation Todt labourers, to make the Island part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall. Luxuries quickly disappear and severe food shortages make the struggle to survive considerably tougher. Periodic RAF raids and German artillery shatter the grim peace. The black market thrives while foreign labourers beg for food. There are deportations and many privations. Towards the end, both the Islanders and the occupying army are starving. Through it all, Ruth meticulously records the rumours, the rations, the scandals, the trials and the tribulations of life under the Nazis as she and her friend and housekeeper Florence battle to care for their home, their elderly relatives and 'gallant' Garry - Ruth's Highland Terrier. She writes with a dry wit and her diaries are testament to the resilience, resourcefulness and humanity of Guernsey people during the Second World War.

Genres: World War II, Nonfiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 19, 2012

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having first read, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I was very interested from whence the author, Ruth Ozanne, came by her background information. What better way to understand than to read her personal diary written as she lived through the German occupation of the Channel Island of Guernsey in Great Britain? I gave this book 5 stars because of its personal and frank nature, and because the author distinguishes between fact and rumor. I recommend this book to history buffs and to anyone who wonders what it may have been like living on an occupied island during WWII In Europe. The day to day life, sacrifices, food shortages (which even put one’s pets into jeopardy), are enlightening. The occupation of personal homes by Germans, and the relocation of one’s dwelling are eye opening. One of the main points of interest is the innovative ways the residents of Guernsey managed such things as Christmas, birthdays and other gift giving events with cheer during a time when all are starving and doing without. Another great point of interest is the relationship between the islanders and the occupiers as they both came to face the same lack of necessities of life. This diary is an interesting read.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The private diary of Ruth Ozanne who lived on the German occupied island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands . The day to day story of being under the control of the German army, rationing, bombings from 1940 until the liberation in May, 1945.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into day to day life in world war II on a small occupied island. It describes survival and how the islanders coped with malnutrition and dictatorship.

[Kathleen Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible story

Factual, well- written account of the German occupation and Ruth’s amazing perseverance. She just keeps going with forbearance and ingenuity.

[Lynette Enevoldsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

An excellent book to take you through the war years in the island of Guernsey. Ruth Ozanne was a retired nurse who was a keen observer. She had privileges: as the daughter of an ex-Bailiff, now living with her widowed mother, she lived in a comfortable house with a live-in couple doing housekeeping and gardening. She had the use of her uncle's large garden which supplied them with vegetables almost year round. After a bombing raid the Germans moved in and commandeered cars, houses and food. Ruth's connections with the wife of the Attorney General, Sherwill, lends sense and authority to her diary entries which describe the limits put on their regular lives. Her house overlooked St Peter Port harbour and she saw frequent raids around D-Day and later, which she calmly described. Rationing became more severe as imports of food were cut off. Both islanders and thousands of Germans in the garrison became weak from starvation. They were all pawns in the fight between Churchill and Hitler. Germans begged for food and cats and dogs disappeared. How would it end?