The German Occupation of the Channel Islands

by Charles Greig Cruickshank

The official history of the German occupation of the Channel Islands, this book is based on previously untapped sources of information, including papers from Government departments, the Island's own wartime files, as well as files left behind by the Feldkommandantur in Guernsey and Jersey. Dr Cruickshank provides a full account of the German invasion, the subsequent landings of various British agents, raids, and of an attempt by psychological warfare to end the Occupation. He also looks at how the islanders and Wehrmacht lived, the reality of collaboration with the occupying powers, and the extent of support for the Resistance. The significance of this episode in the history of the Second World War, which the Germans saw as their first conquest of British soil and a springboard to further occupation of British territory, is essential reading for anyone interested in the war.

Genres: History, World War II, Germany, Nonfiction

370 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched and annotated. Based on war-time documents from England, Germany and the Channel Islands. A bit dry in places especially when discussing the legal setup in the Channel Islands, which didn't seem particularly necessary. The general reader would probably have been quite happy with a brief summary of how the war permanently affected the legal systems in the Islands. Also there were many typographical errors which I find remarkable considering the age of this book, you'd think in the many reprints someone would have seen fit to edit these out, but there you are.

All in all very interesting and informative. Many readers might be more interested in reading anecdotes of life during the Occupation than in the various details of demilitarization, occupation, attempts to re-take the island or at spying and sabotage from England, etc, but this does offer a really good overview or the whole period in question.

[Roberta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very dry read: quit after 40 pages.