The Jersey Occupation of World War II left its mark on Jersey in ways you can still see today. Under orders to turn the island into an “impenetrable fortress”, thousands of forced labourers – from Russia, Spain, France, Poland and Algeria – constructed hundreds of bunkers, anti-tank walls, tunnels and even railways. Scattered across the countryside and coastline, these sites offer a fascinating glimpse into a five-year long occupation that reshaped Jersey forever.
Wander past concrete defenses, peer into hidden bunkers or follow a network of underground tunnels and uncover stories of resilience, ingenuity and survival. For a deeper dive, join a guided tour and let experts shed light on this shadowed chapter of Jersey’s history.
Discover Jersey's Occupation story
The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by German forces during World War II. For five years, Jersey endured hardship, resilience and remarkable acts of courage.
Liberation Day, 09 May 1945, marked the end of this dark chapter – and is still celebrated today with a joyous annual Bank Holiday in Jersey. Delve deeper into the island’s Occupation story and uncover tales that shaped Jersey forever.
Explore Jersey’s Occupation sites
The Channel Island Occupation Society
The Channel Islands Occupation Society (CIOS) is a voluntary, non-political organisation devoted to preserving and sharing Jersey’s wartime story. Passionate volunteers have restored many of the island’s original fortifications – from bunkers to observation towers – offering a re chance to step inside history itself.
Visit these beautifully preserved sites and uncover the fascinating traces of Jersey’s Occupation that still shape the island today.
Jersey War Tunnels
Known during the war as ‘Hohlgangsanlage 8’, the Jersey War Tunnels stretch over a kilometre beneath the island, built largely by forced labourers. This extensive underground network was built to shelter Nazi occupying troops from Allied air raids and bombardments in the event of an invasion. In 1943, the tunnels were transformed into an emergency hospital, adding a striking layer to their wartime history.
Today, they offer a powerful and thought-provoking journey through Jersey’s Occupation, brought to life with immersive installations, soundscapes and relics of the time. The atmosphere is unforgettable, leaving visitors with a deeper understanding of the lives, struggles and stories preserved within these underground walls.
The Channel Islands Military Museum
Step inside history at St. Ouen’s Bay, where echoes of the past whisper through the cool concrete walls of a WWII Nazi bunker. Once part of Hitler’s formidable Atlantic Wall defenses, today this atmospheric space tells a different story – one of resilience, memory and island spirit. Explore an extraordinary collection of artefacts, photographs and personal accounts from those who lived through the Occupation years. Every object and every story brings Jersey’s wartime past vividly to life in this seaside museum.
St. Catherine’s Bunker
Carved into the rugged cliffs of Jersey’s northeast coast, St. Catherine’s Bunker stands as a striking reminder of the island’s wartime past. This vast Nazi fortification and tunnel network was once a key stronghold in the Atlantic Wall, built to guard against an Allied advance after the invasion of France. Today, it’s echoing corridors and commanding sea views offer a powerful glimpse into life under Occupation.
Cold War Bunker
Tucked away beneath an unassuming street in the heart of the island’s capital, St. Helier, lies one of Jersey’s best-kept secrets – Lé Bunkèr d’la Fraide Dgèrre (Cold War Bunker). This Cold War command centre once buzzed with coded messages and quiet vigilance, linking Jersey to bunkers across the UK and Europe. Step behind the heavy blast doors on a guided tour and uncover the island’s role in this tense chapter of global history – a fascinating glimpse into life lived during World War II.
Radio Tower
Set high above La Corbière Lighthouse on Jersey’s rugged south-west coast, the Radio Tower is one of the island’s most striking wartime relics. Built in 1941 as part of the German network of naval observation towers, it once guided ships through the Channel using sophisticated range-finding equipment. Standing 17.8 metres tall with two-metre-thick walls, it was cleverly camouflaged to resemble an 18th century coastal tower. After the war, it became radio lookout before passing to Jersey Heritage in 2006. Today, this remarkable landmark welcomes overnight guests, offering breathtaking sea views and a truly unique stay.
Discover more Occupation sites to explore
The Anti-Tank Bunkers of St. Aubin’s Bay
Starting opposite the Grand Hotel, there is a lovely seaside walk you can take which will introduce you to four German Resistance Nests. Each Resistance Nest has a Type 631b casemates. These casemates housed a Czechoslovakian 4.7cm PakK 36(t) Anti-Tank Gun with a co-axial MG37(t) machine gun.
Strongpoint Plémont
Explore the newly restored headland at Plémont and discover a German Second World War Strongpoint. Strongpoint Plemont was a multi-leveled defence with stunning views of the other Channel Islands and Normandy. You will find remains of mortar, machine gun, anti-aircraft and searchlight bunkers. The site is on cliff paths, please take care.
Battery Moltke
Battery Moltke had intended to house four turreted 15cm Naval Artillery Guns that never arrived. The Germans instead used four 155mm Captured French Artillery guns “Canon de 155 Grande Puissance Filloux” (GPF) designated by the Germans as the “K 418(f)”.
Strongpoint Victoria Tower
Victoria Tower is a Martello Tower and became operational in 1837. The purpose of the tower was to prevent the enemy landing at Anne Port and to prohibit access to Mont Saint Nicolas, protecting Mont Orgueil Castle. The area has outstanding views of Jersey's east coast, with a backdrop of the Norman coast.
Strongpoint Grève de Lecq
Grève de Lecq Bay was a German strongpoint during the Occupation. The German Forces deployed a lot of armaments and bunkers in the area. In the middle of the bay a Jersey Round Tower dominates the view, this Napoleonic era tower was also modified by the Germans to include a secure bunker at the base, and a roof-mounted machine gun.
Strongpoint Corbière
The La Corbière area was the home for a large German Infantry Strongpoint with an array of weaponry and six fortifications built with two meter thick walls and ceilings. The area is great to explore in the afternoon and if you are there for sunset make sure you have your camera ready.
Battery Lothringen
Battery Lothringen was the only German Naval batterie in Jersey. In the 90's the CI Occupation Society recovered one of the batteries gun barrels, which were thrown off the cliffs at the end of the war and this is on display in Gun emplacement Number One. The area provides a good few hours of exploration so, give yourselves time to see everything.
Tours & excursions
Step beyond the bunkers and stories with a guided tour that brings Jersey’s Occupation years vividly to life. Join expert guides who weave history, local insight and human stories into unforgettable experiences – from exploring hidden tunnels and fortifications to walking the very lanes once trodden by islanders during the war. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious, these tours offer a deeper understanding of the island’s wartime past and its enduring spirit of resilience. Discover Jersey through the eyes of those who know its stories best – and see history where it happened.
1940-1945: Occupation to Liberation
History Alive!
In WW2, Jersey was demilitarized by the British and then occupied by Nazi Germany for 5 years. The Occupation changed the lives of the Islanders and the appearance of their Island forever! Islanders had to wait until liberated the day after the end of WW2 on 9 May 1945. This tour will give visitors a better understanding of what happened without the sensationalist and incorrect myths.
Dec 06 2025 ‐ Dec 21 2025
Nazi Occupation: Fortification Ready for D-Day
History Alive!
When history comes alive! Join Marc Yates, the only accredited Battlefield Guide in the Channel Islands and explore the impact of the Nazi's occupation and preparations through massive fortifications for the expected attempt to regain them on D-Day. The islands became the most fortified part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall. Includes bunker visits.
Dec 06 2025 ‐ Dec 21 2025
WW2 Bunkers at Night
Jersey War Tours
See Jersey's military heritage in a new light and help support a non-profit organisation! Evening tours of bunkers offer an unforgettable atmosphere when exploring. We will visit sites not open to the public and often use a 4x4. Become a temporary team member and see how Jersey became an impregnable fortress!
Dec 06 2025 ‐ Dec 31 2026
Occupation Trail
Geotourist App
The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by German forces in WW2. The Occupation has left an extraordinary legacy on Jersey, with hundreds of concrete bunkers, walls and tunnels ringing the coast and scattering the island’s interior. Download the Geotourist app to follow the Occupation Trails and explore how the Occupation has left an extraordinary legacy on Jersey.
Dec 06 2025 ‐ Dec 31 2025
Combined Military History & Battlefields Tour
History Alive!
This tour covers pretty much all of Jersey battlefield and military history. It includes both half day tours "Brutal warfare - the realities of late medieval warfare for soldiers and civilians" and "Redcoats & privateering (including the Battle of Jersey 1781) as well as the fortifications built and adapted by the Nazis during the 1940-45 occupation.
Dec 06 2025 ‐ Dec 21 2025
WW2 Bunker Tours
Join us for an exclusive, guided tour of World War II bunkers every weekend at 09:00. This private experience accommodates up to four people and allows for an intimate exploration of history. Our expert guide will lead you through a customizable route tailored to your interests, ensuring a unique adventure each time you visit. During the tour, clients will also have the opportunity to handle safe, authentic World War II weapons and artefacts. Each item has been meticulously prepared for handling, providing a tangible connection to the past and a chance to experience history up close.
Dec 06 2025 ‐ Dec 28 2025
Life Under Nazi Occupation Tour
History Alive!
When history comes alive! Join Marc Yates, the only accredited Battlefield Guide in the Channel Islands on a journey of through the Nazi Occupation of Jersey. With British citizens deprived of freedom and subjected to harsh Nazi laws and regulations, life was certainly different. Was there resistance? Not armed but definitely yes!
Dec 06 2025 ‐ Dec 21 2025
Liberation 80 – WW2 Bunker Tour
Jersey War Tours
Join us for a tour of the WW2 bunkers with a focus on the Liberation. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Europe and the Liberation of the Channel Islands. Our tours have been updated to include photos and equipment of the Allied Liberation Force 135.
Dec 06 2025 ‐ Dec 28 2025
The Forced Workers Trail
Liberation Route Europe
To achieve Hitler’s orders of transforming Jersey into an impregnable fortress, approximately 6000 foreign forced workers were brought to the island against their will over a two year period. The Forced Workers Trail will take you on a journey, visiting the places that tell the story of the plight of the forced workers as witnessed by the civilian population and through writings of the workers themselves.
As you make your way around The Forced Workers Trail, you’ll visit memorials, unassuming buildings and haunting landmarks. A visit to The Stranger’s Cemetery and memorial at Westmount is a reflective experience. Monolithic concrete constructions at Elizabeth Castle serve as monuments to the scale of the forced worker’s labours. Look out for a message left by Spanish workers scratched into the wet concrete, ‘made by Spaniards 11.08.1943’, it whispers. The forced worker’s memorial and exhibition at La Hougue Bie is an evocative reminder of the workers stories. So, set off to uncover the poignant story of forced labour in Jersey during WWII.
