Daily Archives: June 11, 2019

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AO2 Explore Ideas

The Occupation of Jersey

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Key Dates about ‘The Occupation of Jersey’:

  • 6th June 2019 – 75th Anniversary of The D-Day Landings and the start of the liberation of Europe from Nazi Occupation
  • 9th May 2020 – 75th Anniversary of Liberation of Jersey from Nazi Occupation
  • 30th June 1940 – Jersey was invaded by the Germans. On this day they sent an airforce of bombers over the islands and bombed the harbours Jersey.
  • 7 May 1945 – The German army had surrendered and the end of the war in Europe was announced. During the week leading up to 6 May islanders had been hearing reports of Hitler’s fall in Berlin by way of their hidden radios. In spite of the fact that the island was still officially under occupation, rumors began circulating of an imminent end to the war in Europe.
  • 8 May 1945 – The units that made up Force 135 received their orders to move to their marshalling camps in Portsmouth. The main body of the Force was due to arrive in the islands on 12 May, however, a small contingent of Force 135, including their Commander, Brigadier AE Snow, left for the Channel Islands aboard HMS’ Bulldog and Beagle the morning of 8 May.
  • At 7.15am on 9 May, on the quarter deck of HMS Bulldog, Second-in-Command for Guernsey General Siegfried Heine signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the German Command of the Channel Islands, effecting their capitulation. On completion of this, General Heine was then ordered to “immediately cause all German flags and ensigns now flying in the Channel Islands to be lowered”. 

Key Facts about ‘The Occupation of Jersey’:

  • The German’s prohibited the use of radios which lead to a lack of communication between the island and the mainland.
  • The island was also moved to Central European time. In the months following D-Day, as the Allies regained control of France, the source of supplies fueling the islands was now no longer available.
  • The Nazi’s put many restrictions on islanders (curfews, rations, not allowed to drive private motor vehicles) they also did not allow anyone enter or leave the island which lead to food shortages.
  •  Food shortages on Jersey were finally relieved by the arrival of the Red Cross ship SS Vega, bringing food parcels to Jersey. Before then, substitutes had been used to replace everyday foods, with seawater replacing salt, for instance, and a mixture of parsnip and sugar beet replacing tea.
  • Hitler ordered the conversion of Jersey into an impregnable fortress. Thousands of slave workers from countries like Russia, Spain, France, Poland, and Algeria built hundreds of bunkers, anti-tank walls, railway systems, as well as many tunnel complexes.
    • The fortresses are mainly located around the coasts of the island in order to prevent unauthorised access in/out of the island.
    • The remains of theses fortresses can still be found on the island, which showcases the historical factors of the island.
  • The religion of Judaism was not accepted by Hitler/Nazis which lead to people within the religion being sent to concentration camps where they were treated poorly and sadly the nazis slowly killed them off.

Mood Board – Exploring Inspiration Towards The Occupation Of Jersey:

AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, Unit 3 Landscape

Occupation / Liberation – Post 2 (The Archive)

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The Jersey Archive:

The Jersey Archive was established as part of Jersey Heritage in 1993. The Archive is the Island’s national repository and their purpose is to preserve the unique written cultural heritage of the Island therefore ensuring that future generations in Jersey can access archival material to learn more about Jersey’s past, as well as material on their predecessors. Since 1993 Jersey Archive has collected over 500,000 archival records from places or people related to the Island. Such as:

  • States of Jersey, States Committees and Departments
  • The Royal Court
  • H.E. Lieutenant-Governor
  • Parishes
  • Churches
  • Businesses
  • Societies
  • Individuals

These records are now stored in our environmentally monitored strongrooms at the Jersey Archive and can be searched online. The Jersey Archive is the official repository for the Island documentary heritage, and can offer guidance, information and documents that relate to all aspects of the Island’s History. The archives hold records and documents of all kinds, some being:

These records are now stored in our environmentally monitored strongrooms at the Jersey Archive and can be searched online. The Jersey Archive is the official repository for the Island documentary heritage, and can offer guidance, information and documents that relate to all aspects of the Island’s History. The archives hold records and documents of all kinds, some being:

  • House History
  • Contracts
  • Island Maps
  • Criminal Records for Family Historians
  • Military Records for Family Historians
  • Conservation
  • Preservation and Storage of Documents
  • Useful Websites
  • German Occupation
  • Bankruptcy Records
  • Historic Buildings Research Leaflet

The long term preservation and security of the records kept in the archives is highest priority. Since the Public Records (Jersey) Law was passed in 2002 the Jersey Archive has been the official repository for all archival records produced by public institutions. The Jersey Archive does also accept records from businesses, clubs, societies and individuals. These can be donated or deposited on long term long loan whereby ownership remains with the depositing person. Once catalogued, documents are carefully packed in acid free materials and stored in the correct environmental conditions.

Online Archive:

As well as collecting and preserving records the Archive is committed to making archives available to all members of the local and worldwide community. Records that are stored at Jersey Archive are catalogued staff and made available via the Archives and Collections Online to allow easier access to these documents for people who may not be able to physically get there. Their website allows you to search through the archives by entering a name, place or subject that is relevant to your research.

Photography in Archives:

Photography has a double role within archives, as most photographs in the archives today were likely taken by random members of the public, they can be viewed today to give a sense of what life was like, what Jersey looked like and of the people who have lived here in the past. This is important as it shows how the island truly was and gives us a pure insight into the Island’s history without any bias or other motive. Many images in the archive have also been taken by photographers and artists over the years. However, while these images are truthful and show the island in years previous, the artist or photographer likely had certain ideas or concepts which their photographs had to adhere to, thus creating a sense of falsehood if images were staged or taken with certain intentions.

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THE OCCUPATION OF JERSEY

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The occupation of Jersey began in 1940 on the 1st July and five years later ended on the 9th May in 1945 and was one of the most significant moments in the Channel Islands history.

The arrival:

Before the Germans fully invaded the Channel Island, the Germans wanted to ensure the that the channel islands had little to no defence, on the 28th June the Germans sent troops across from the nearby French coast (which had been recently been occupied by the Germans just a few days before) and landed an air attack against St Helier harbour in Jersey. German aircraft also strafed La Rocque Harbour. In total nine people were killed.The Germans then dropped copies of an ultimatum, on Jersey at 5:00am on Monday the 1st July, with a total of three copies dropped- two in Bath Street and one at the airport. They were then immediately taken to the Bailiff, Alexander Coutanche. Coutanche summoned the Royal Court at 9.30am, and the States met later and passed an Act to comply with the terms of the ultimatum. Copies of the translation of the ultimatum were put up around the Island with the following footnote:-

“The States have ordered this Communication to be printed and posted forthwith, and charge the inhabitants to keep calm, to comply with the requirements of the Communication, and to offer no resistance whatsoever to the occupation of the Island.”

Fortification:

Among the lasting legacies left behind by the German from the occupation include fortifications erected around the coast and some at other specific locations. Although many had been destroyed and removed just after the war to remove any remains from the Germans to what the civilians wanted to forget at the time, a lot have now been restored as a reminder of a period otherwise best forgotten. Many guns emplacements, bunkers, towers and other concrete constructions have remained to this day, some are now tourist attractions.

Life in the occupied island:

When the Germans took over the island they also bought a substation about of rules that required all citizens of the Jersey channel Island to follow. For example these included, a daily curfew, a switch to Central European Time, a ban on listening to anything other than German radio stations (subsequently relaxed, but followed later on by a ban on all radio use and confiscation of sets), a ban on private use of motor vehicles, a ban on sales of spirits and an order preventing the raising of prices of any commodity. Initially rationing followed the pattern already imposed before the Germans arrived, but as the Occupation years went by, restrictions became stricter and stricter.

The Jews:

There were many story on how the Jews were treated and their lives, these can be reached through the book written by Frederick Cohen, called The Jews in The Channel Islands during the German Occupation 1940-1945

He writes:

“The implementation of the anti-Semitic Orders in the islands had a substantial effect on the lives of the registered Jews as each measure cumulatively placed further restrictions of their freedom, singling them out from the rest of the community.”


One example given is that of Mr and Mrs Samuel Simon: “For example, Samuel and Beatrice Simon’s great-granddaughter remembered that they lived in a ‘terrible state of fear’, especially after they had received a deportation notice. Their actual deportation having been delayed due to Samuel’s poor state of health.64 They were traumatised by the special curfew imposed upon Jews, and indeed such was their state of fear that they kept their curtains closed all day. Shortly before Samuel’s death the Simons moved to their daughter Ella’s home at Langley Park, St Helier. Samuel died on 7 November 1943.

Liberation:

The Channel Islands were liberated a day after the official end of the war in Europe and this joyous event is celebrated annually on 9 May 1945. The decreasing numbers of islanders present then and alive today have, without exception, vivid memories of the final events of their occupation by German troops.