German Occupation of British Territory During WW2
Here is a fact most people don’t even know… The Germans did manage to invade and occupy British Territory during WW2, and they would be the last garrisons to surrender.
Invasion of The Channel Islands
In July of 1940, German forces invaded and occupied The Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey, most commonly known as The Channel Islands. This was seen as a precursor to a planned invasion of England, as it was believed that it would be a matter of time before the British government would surrender.
Prior to the invasion, the British chose not to defend the islands as they were deemed to have no strategic importance in the defense of the home islands, and whatever garrisons were there were evacuated. Along with over 17,000 civilians, 5,000 of whom were schoolchildren. However, most of the residents opted to stay and soon found themselves under German occupation.
Life Under German Occupation
Despite this, life on the islands didn’t change all that much, as the local governments still had a level of authority. Nor was there any resistance, as many feared what would happen if such a movement existed. The German Army was not above punishing innocent civilians after all, and despite a few commando raids, life on the islands was rather peaceful. However, the local government did have some level of collaboration with the occupiers, as they played a role in rounding up Jewish residents for deportation.
Hardships During the War
Of course, as the war progressed and the Western Allies eventually invaded France in 1944, life became really tough as the German garrisons soon found themselves isolated. Starvation set in, with many residents surviving thanks to the arrival of Red Cross parcels.
End of German Occupation
The islands remained under German occupation until the end of the war. The German commander of Guernsey officially surrendered on board the HMS Bulldog, while the leader of the Jersey Island garrisons surrendered on board the HMS Beagle on May 9. The last German garrisons on Alderney would not surrender until May 16, but this was because they had been forgotten about and were not removed until May 20.
~NC
