Liberation Day

9th May

A key element of Jersey’s history is the occupation during World War II: for nearly five years, Jersey was under German rule and, along with the rest of the Channel Islands, was the only part of the British Isles to be occupied. Architectural evidence of the occupation is scattered around the island, with several gun emplacements as well as many concrete bunkers still standing.

The Island of Jersey was liberated on May 9th 1945 - this is re-enacted every year in Liberation Square and memorials have been erected around the island. Join islanders as they celebrate the liberation with a wide range of events for local residents and visitors to enjoy, including heritage tours, themed walks, special events, open bunkers and classic coach tours.

Occupation

The German Occupation of Jersey began two weeks after the British government had demilitarised the island fearing the safety of civilians should there be any conflict. However, the German Air Force did bomb and machine gun the island, killing nine and wounding many more.

A few days later the German Commander of the Air Forces in Normandy dropped an ultimatum from the air demanding the immediate surrender of the island. White flags and crosses were placed in prominent positions, as stipulated by the Germans, and the following day, July 2 1940; Jersey was occupied by air-borne troops under the command of Hauptmann Gussek.

Under the occupying forces, Jersey law and Government were allowed to function as before. Assemblies in churches and chapels for divine worship were permitted, as were prayers for the Royal Family and the Empire. However, the German State Police, GESTAPO, had a branch on the island, and they clamped down on meetings of bodies like the Freemasons and the Salvation Army, as well as indiscriminately searching houses and questioning civilians, many of whom found themselves taken to Germany alongside members of the British Forces, some never to return.

Defence

Throughout the occupation, Hitler ordered the conversion of Jersey into an impregnable fortress island. Thousands of slave workers from countries like Spain, France, Poland, Russia, and Algeria built the Underground Hospital in St. Peter for troops wounded in France. Fortifications around the island were also built as part of Germany’s “Atlantic Wall”. Examples can be found all over Jersey, especially in St. Ouen’s Bay.

Food shortages on Jersey were finally relieved by the arrival of the Red Cross ship SS Vega, bringing parcels of food to hungry islanders. 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.

The Germans issued special currency for use in occupied countries called the Reichskredit, and consisted of coins of 1,2, 5, and 10 Reichspfennigs, and notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 Reichskredits.
Liberation

On VE Day, the Bailiff was informed that the release of prisoners of war on the island was imminent, with the States becoming responsible for their accommodation. All civilian prisoners were also to be released.

One day later, the 9th May 1945, the HMS Beagle sailed into St. Helier carrying the advance party of Task Force 135, sent to reclaim the Channel Islands. This time, it was the Germans who were ordered to fly the white flag. The task force included many Channel Islanders who were forced to leave in 1940, and one of them, Captain Hugh le Brocq, was given the honour of raising the Union Jack over Fort Regent.

Guided Walks

Jersey Tourism has a variety of guided walks with a Liberation, Occupation and historic theme. Click here for times, dates and descriptions of the walks.

Look out for:

• St Helier - Occupation to Liberation
• Living With the Enemy - Local Life During the Occupation
• North by Northwest
• Memory Lanes
• Talk of the Town
• A Village Life

Find out more about these walks >>>>