The Nazi Occupation of Jersey

Dan Snow's History Hit

History Hit

History

4.7 • 12.9K Ratings

🗓️ 18 May 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

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Summary

The only British territory ever occupied by the Nazis was the Channel Islands. From 1940 to the end of the war, the Germans turned Jersey, and some of the islands around it, into an impenetrable fortress. It became a key strategic part of Hitler’s defensive Atlantic Wall and a base from which he hoped to invade Britain. Under German occupation, islanders suffered under a repressive regime… Some were even sent to internment camps in Germany. In return, thousands of prisoners of war were brought over to work as slave labourers, building the Nazi’s extensive defence network across the island.

On the 80th anniversary of its liberation, Dan explores the island and tells the story of Jersey’s suffering and resilience under enemy control.

This episode was made in collaboration with Visit Jersey. You can find more information on all the places Dan visits in this episode here:

Visit Jersey: https://www.jersey.com/

Jersey Heritage: https://www.jerseyheritage.org/

Jersey War Tours: https://www.jerseybunkertours.com/

Jersey War Tunnels: https://www.jerseywartunnels.com/

ArtHouse Jersey 'Structures & Memory' Exhibition: https://www.arthousejersey.je/our-work/structures-memory-a-place-called-wurzach

WIth thanks to Lucy Layton, Lola Garvin & ArtHouse Jersey, Michael Billings, Chris Addy, Phil Marett, Jersey Heritage and BBC Jersey for the archive, Fishing Jersey and Aaron from Lakey Bikes.

Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore. The production manager was Beth Donaldson and production support from Annie Woodman and Peta Stamper.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the sound of Liberation Day in Jersey. I'm standing on a very, very busy street
0:08.5	right at the heart of St Helia, the biggest town. There is a parade of people marching past
0:12.4	all around me from balconies and flagpoles. We've got Union flags and the flag of Jersey flying
0:18.0	taut in the easterly breeze that's blowing today.
0:21.6	The sun is out, there's not a cloud in the sky.
0:23.6	It's perfect weather because thousands of people of Jersey have come out to Mark to commemorate
0:28.6	and celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of this island from Nazi occupation in May
0:33.6	1945.
0:35.6	And there's an urgency to this commemoration because the people of Jersey,
0:39.3	they understood what it was to live under the yoke of tyranny,
0:43.3	to live under Nazi military occupation.
0:46.3	And this is the anniversary of their liberation,
0:48.3	and clearly they intend to celebrate it.
0:53.3	The only British territory in Europe ever occupied by the Nazis was here in the Channel Islands.
1:02.1	From 1940 to the very end of the war in Europe, Jersey was under Nazi domination.
1:10.7	The Germans turned Jersey
1:12.0	and the islands around it into an impregnable fortress.
1:17.6	Jersey became both a base from which he one day hoped to invade Britain,
1:24.4	but also a key part of Hitler's defensive Atlantic War.
1:29.7	Under German occupation, islanders suffered under a repressive regime.
1:35.1	And so did the thousands of forced and enslaved labourers who were brought to construct
1:42.6	the Nazi's extensive defensive network across the island.
	...

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