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The Nazi occupation of the small Channel Island of Alderney irreversibly altered the landscape and lives of both the contemporary population and the subsequent generations. The evacuation of the island’s 1,500 inhabitants in June 1940 paved the way for a period of occupation by the Germans that would last until May 1945. In 1941, Hitler issued an order to fortify the Channel Islands and make them an ‘impregnable fortress’; thus creating ‘Adolf Island’. This book seeks to collate and combine historical and archaeological data relating the occupation landscape in order to produce the definitive guide to the events that took place during this period. It addresses yet unanswered questions relating to the purpose of the occupation, the lives of the labourers, known and missing, and the post-war reaction to this legacy.
Elisabeth (Brenda Blethyn), a white Protestant from the Channel Islands, looking for their children in the city of London after the 7 th July terrorist attacks. Borders feature prominently in the film. The narrative crosses various geographical borders and was filmed in different locations: France, London and one of the Channel Islands (Guernsey). It was a French–British co-production and it features a multinational cast and crew, including a French director of Algerian origin working in London. This chapter looks at the film
these problems, the available sources can still tell us a huge amount about the origins of those who made up England’s alien population. This chapter considers those from other parts of the British Isles and the Channel Islands, before we move in chapter 5 to look at incomers from continental Europe. The Welsh The numbers and distribution of the Welsh within medieval England is the most difficult to judge, since people from Wales were specifically excluded from the scope of the alien subsidies. Only six obviously Welsh people can be found in the 1440 subsidy
artillery to the guns, and for propaganda’. For this, they were reportedly starved, tortured, and made to live in damp cells for six and ten months respectively. 67 Beatings appear to have been common. Ivan Makarenko provided information on his mistreatment which took the form of ‘very little food’ and being regularly ‘beaten by warders’. 68 Algerian prisoners were also physically abused. 69 At least four men housed in the prison were from the neighbouring Channel Islands – Eric Charles Kibble
Channel Islands were too difficult and expensive to defend, in the week before the occupation began, the island’s 1432 inhabitants were evacuated to mainland Britain. Hence, the Germans were free to make use of the houses, businesses, fields, transport facilities and personal possessions left behind. 10 Previously unassuming buildings and fields were transformed into labour and concentration camps, and some became killing and burial sites. The forced and slave labour programme also involved huge construction works
other provisions. 4 Therefore, although some deportations began earlier in the year, it is no coincidence that the majority of forced, slave and less-than-slave labourers were transported off the island in June and July 1944. With their departure, many documents relating to the labour programme were also removed. 5 While WW2 raged on, these men endured terrible journeys throughout the Channel Islands, France, Germany and Austria, during which they experienced further ill-treatment and
(including local and national government, religious leaders and forensic specialists) consider the implications that unmarked burials exist on British soil and the need to honour the memory of those who perished. Notes 1 For examples, see TNA, FCO 33/4872, ‘Exhumation and Transfer of German War Dead in the British Channel Islands’, 5 February 1962, CWGC, 7/4/2/10823, ‘Members of the German Todt Organisation. Alderney Russian Cemetery’, 7 December 1961; CWGC, 7
divisions in Alderney had been re-established in the late 1940s. Some were abandoned or buried. Others were reused for a variety of purposes or were demolished by Territorial Army sappers during annual visits to the island that continued well into the 1960s. 56 Two local historians, Colin Partridge and Trevor Davenport, have produced several monographs on the fortifications, while several articles have appeared on this topic in the Channel Islands Occupation Society Review in an attempt to raise awareness
concentration camp system – although they never actually reached Germany (discussed further in Chapter 10 ). 151 By July 1944, all other non-German OT workers had been evacuated from Norderney. 152 The SS Minotaure was used to transport the remaining labourers in the Channel Islands back to St Malo by sea. Most of the labourers on board were Jewish prisoners who had been housed on Alderney (and thus were likely from Norderney camp) but workers of other nationalities included female workers from the neighbouring
://obd-memorial.ru/html/info.htm?id=62355466%20%20%20%20 , 9 December 1947. e TsAMO, 58/18004/120, ‘Information from loss clarification documents’, https://obd-memorial.ru/html/info.htm?id=56895982 , 11 June 1946. f TNA, WO311/12, ‘Statement of Unteroffizier Rudolf Kupfer’, 25 June 1945; TNA, WO199/2-090B, ‘M.I.19 (R.P.S.)/2253. Report: Channel Islands, Alderney’, 5 July 1944; USHMM, RG.14-101M, ‘Dr. Baldewein, Helmut’, 3 February 1966. g