Liberation of the German-occupied Channel Islands

File:Liberation sculpture Pomme d'Or Jersey.jpg

Liberation sculpture in front of Pomme d'Or, Jersey

The Channel Islands were occupied during World War II by German forces from 30 June 1940, until May 1945. They were liberated by British forces following the general German surrender.

Considered not defendable by the British government in 1940, the islands were demilitarised and some civilians were given the opportunity to evacuate to England before the German forces arrived.

The island leaders and some civil servants were asked to stay in their posts to look after the civilians in their care, 41,101 remained on Jersey, 24,429 on Guernsey and 470 on Sark. Alderney had just 18.

Apart from undertaking a few commando raids, the islands were ignored by the British government until June 1944 when additional attacks on German shipping and radar units took place. To avoid starvation of civilians, permission was given for Red Cross parcels to be sent to the islands during the winter of 1944-45. Liberation would have to wait until the end of the war in Europe.

Early planning

In his role with Combined Operations, Lord Louis Mountbatten was responsible for planning commando raids, from raids involving a handful of men up to the August 1942 Dieppe Raid which involved over 10,000. A proposal in 1943 was given a code name Operation Constellation which was the assault on the three main islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney where 40,000 Wehrmacht troops were well dug in. Mountbatten commented:

"Each island is a veritable fortress, the assault against which cannot be contemplated unless the defences are neutralised, or reduced to a very considerable extent by prior action. The proposal was eventually scuttled after it was felt that in order to dislodge the occupiers, naval and air units would need to smash the defences, resulting in massive civilian casualties."

Planning for the liberation of the Channel Islands began with "Operation Rankin", prepared in late 1943. It looked at three possibilities:

• Case A – before the liberation of France, which concluded a small attack might work if German morale was low and most German forces had left the Islands
• Case B - To occupy the Islands if they were evacuated by the Germans
• Case C – In the event of the complete unconditional surrender of all German forces

Only Case C was considered likely at the time and a directive dated 10 November 1943 by the Chief of Staff Supreme Allied Commander (COSSAC) was issued which resulted in a Joint Plan for Operation Rankin C

Naval forces would be based on whatever was available at the time, merchant shipping would be needed to transport three months supply of food and medicines, as would small craft for landing supplies, bicycles for transport and signalling equipment. 725 officers and men were considered adequate.

Military intelligence

In 1943 intelligence was severely lacking. Additional aerial photographs needed to be taken and interpreted. There were no radio transmitters in the islands so communications to discover what was actually happening in the islands was almost non-existent.

It was estimated that German troops comprised 23,800 men with one artillery and three infantry regiments within 319 Infantry Division. Surrender would be unlikely to occur without a fall in morale once isolated and/or starvation.

Aware of the 2,000-3,000 British civilians who had been deported to camps in Germany in 1942-3, civilian numbers were estimated at 65,000 with 42,000 in Jersey, 23,000 in Guernsey and 355 in Sark.

Aerial photographs were taken and the few escaping civilians from the islands were interviewed.

Detailed planning

Early in 1944 Brigadier Alfred Ernest Snow was appointed to command Task Force 135, the code name given to the liberation task force. Snow was 46 years old and had served in India and Burma between the wars, he was awarded an OBE when a Major with the BEF in June 1940. A small HQ structure was created to look into the planning.

On 10 May 1944 Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, (SHAEF) sent a report to Southern Command stating that in the event it became necessary to capture the Channel Islands, this would be undertaken by 21st Army Group, after which Southern Command would take over and Rankin C should be reviewed accordingly. Shipping would be available after 15 July, but no troops. Southern Command replied on 22 June 1944, after the Normandy D-Day landings had taken place, that Rankin C could be amended to suit either the German evacuation of the Islands or the German surrender on the Islands. Alderney was to be bypassed as it was not believed there were any civilians on the island.

By August, only Rankin C would be applicable and Headquarters 115 Brigade provided the nucleus of the HQ for Task Force 135. The code name was changed to Operation Nestegg on 11 August 1944. Plymouth was chosen as the embarkation port and the planners of Task Force 135 moved their HQ from the New Forest to Cornwall.

Not knowing when the force would be needed, a code word W-Day or warning day when the operation was given the go ahead by SHAEF was established and a timetable from then, W+1, W+2 etc. was established until C-Day, the first landing day, with C+1, C+2 etc. for follow up days.

A decision was made to involve a number of Channel Island people in the planning, as their local knowledge would be invaluable. The interrogation of any islanders who managed to escape the islands by boat, especially those in 1944 provided much needed intelligence.

Needing to land in both Jersey and Guernsey on the same day involved additional shipping and men, three battalions each of 700 men, plus engineers, were now needed. Suitable beaches for landings, such as St Aubin’s bay in Jersey and L’Ancresse in Guernsey, were selected. Unloading in an area with a 10m rise and fall of the tide had to be planned. Surrender terms were drafted. Prisoner of war facilities would be needed. The airports would be opened for transport planes to land.

Administrative tasks would be given to No 20 Civil Affairs Unit including the responsibility to bring 200 tons of food, clothing and medicines in on C-Day. Everything the islands needed from pots and pans to 1.1m sheets of toilet paper were sourced. The British Government gave the force commander authority under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 to make regulations, any new laws passed by the Civil Governments in the islands would need Brigadier Snow’s approval.

Civilians would not be allowed to leave the islands without a permit. English currency would be provided, with £1m in notes and coins brought to the islands to enable people to exchange Reichsmarks back into sterling. A distribution of free “treats” including tobacco, chocolate and tea were planned.

Longer term plans were made for the removal of PoW’s, mines and weapons and the bringing in of food sufficient for 2,750 calories a day for three months for the civilians as well as fuel and goods, including 15 months worth of clothing rations which would be made available to purchase through the island shops.

There was no rush to liberate the islands. The Germans were prisoners of war who did not even have to be guarded. Because of the shortage of infantry, troops allocated to Task Force 135 were being sent to join the main army fighting in Europe.

Attempts at an early surrender

During the month of September 1944, British aircraft dropped leaflets printed in German over the islands almost every night, then on 22 September an unarmed Air-Sea Rescue High Speed launch HSL-2632 travelled from France to a point near St Martin’s point off Guernsey, arriving late and not finding any German ship to meet them, they proceeded to St Peter Port harbour under a white flag, met by E-boat S-112 which was not aware of the proposed meeting. A message was sent ashore but the opportunity for a discussion was refused. The HSL-2632 sailed off to England, being fired at by an 8.8cm battery on Alderney who were not aware of the attempted peace mission.

It was around this time that agreement was given by the Allies to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to send a ship with Red Cross Parcels to the islands to reduce the risk of starvation. The first ship would sail in mid December.

A few more leaflet dropping missions were undertaken, with no visible sign of success, possibly because it was impossible for the soldiers, trapped on an island, to desert.

Exercise Merlin

In December 1944 a rehearsal for Nestegg from W-Day to C+3 was undertaken. 6,100 troops were gathered and briefed, supplies loaded onto vehicles and ships, vehicles then were loaded onto landing ships and men were boarded. The Jersey force with 200 vehicles and 804 tons of supplies were landed at Paignton, the Guernsey force with 340 vehicles and 800 tons landed at Brixham. Realism continued with a few fanatic “enemy”, some in plain clothes and civilian women favouring Germany were met onshore. There were 12 minor injuries and a barn was damaged by a bulldozer. Lessons were learnt, such as the discovery of a shortage of cooks, and applied to the Nestegg plans.

A second exercise in late February was undertaken with no problems, as was street fighting in bombed out streets in Plymouth. A third exercise, scheduled for mid May was cancelled.

Task Force 135

The roughly 6,000 military and the naval forces would include the following:

• 614, 618 and 620 Regiments, Royal Artillery
• 411 Independent heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
• No 20 Civil Affairs Unit
• Assorted Royal Engineer companies

• Assorted Royal Signals sections
• Royal Army Service Corps units
• 209 Field Ambulance
• 135 Field Ordnance

• REME, Medical, Postal, Provost, Pioneer, Intelligence, Pay, Catering, PoW, DCLI band, Royal Marines, RAF, and Public Relations companies or sections
• Assorted ships from the British, American, Canadian, Polish, Belgian and Dutch Navies.

W-Days

On 30 April 1945 Hitler died, German flags in the Channel Islands were flown at half masts and Union Jack’s were being sold openly in the islands. The Bailiff in Jersey appealed for calm.

Coat of Arms of Jersey

Plan Prophet the landing in Guernsey and plan Moslem in Jersey, were given the “stand to” warning on 3 May 1945, making 4 May W-Day. Formation badges were issued, the shield was based on the Jersey coat of arms and stencil formation signs were painted on the vehicles. Equipment and stores started to move from depots as far away as Liverpool. W+1, W+2 and W+3 came and went. On W+4, 8 May 1945, the day Europe celebrated the end of War in Europe, vehicles were being loaded. Press men came aboard on W+5 just before the leading ships sailed.

In the islands of Guernsey, Jersey and Sark the anticipation of the end of the war in Europe was at fever pitch, the authorities were trying hard to suppress the civilian’s urge to hang out patriotic flags as they did not want to provoke German retaliation. The Germans were very nervous about their future.

On 7 May the Bailiff of Jersey went to the prison and his request resulted in 30 ”political prisoners” being released. Also on W+3 a message was transmitted by Southern Command in clear to the German commander in the Channel Islands telling them that ships would arrive shortly to accept their surrender. The German reply was that they only took orders from German command.

On 8 May the Germans released all other political prisoners, British French and American Prisoners of War and all German prisoners, held in the islands.

Everything changed on 8 May, when radios, which had been banned for years upon pain of imprisonment, were produced in public, connected to loud speakers and tuned in to the speech given by Winston Churchill at 3pm where they heard him say:

Hostilities will end officially at one minute after midnight tonight, but in the interests of saving lives the cease fire began yesterday to be sounded all along the front, and our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today.

The crowds were cheering and jubilant, the island newspapers had published that peace had been declared, allied flags and bunting appeared everywhere, but where were the British?

Very late on 7 May, Southern Command had tried again by radio. The German commander replied to the British radio message confirming the British ships would not be fired upon. Two destroyers, HMS Beagle escorting HMS Bulldog sailed at 09.45 on 8 May with an advance party codename Omelette

Arriving off the south west coast of Guernsey at 14.00 hrs the ships were met by a German minesweeper. A junior German officer came aboard HMS Bulldog telling the assembled British that he was only empowered to negotiate surrender terms, not to sign them. Details of the surrender terms were handed to the German and he departed, as did the British ships as they would not be given safe conduct to remain as the general ceasefire would operate only from midnight.

W-Day +5 (9 May)

Channel Islands Liberated- the End of German Occupation, Channel Islands, UK, 1945 D24595

Receiving a message from the Germans agreeing to a meeting at midnight on 8-9 May, the ships returned to the south west coast of Guernsey and a German minesweeper M4613 came out to meet HMS Bulldog. The German second in command, Generalmajor Siegfried Heine came aboard and went to the wardroom. Asked if he would accept unconditional surrender he replied Ja.

8 copies of the formal terms of surrender were signed on the quarterdeck using a rum barrel as a table, with civility and polite bows. At 07.15 hrs HMS Bulldog with the help of a German pilot, anchored off St Peter Port.

All German flags would be lowered and German ships would be sent out to pick up British troops and land them on shore. The initial Omelette force of 4 officers and 21 men, including four Guernsey men landed at 07.50 hrs to be greeted by a town decorated in red, white and blue and thousands of cheering malnourished islanders singing, amongst other patriotic songs, Sarnia-Cherie. Lt-Col Stoneman set up his HQ in the Royal Hotel. At 11.00 hrs Stoneman and his small party went to the Royal Court house where they met the Bailiff of Guernsey, Victor Carey and Jurats. A Union Flag was ceremoniously hoisted.

Brigadier Snow transferred to HMS Beagle and they sailed on to Jersey, leaving HMS Bulldog anchored off St Peter Port, where a local fishing boat paid them a visit, swopping with the naval crew, German souvenirs for chocolate and cigarettes.

HMS Beagle arrived off Jersey at 10.00 hrs with another set of surrender documents to be signed. It had been done this way in case a German officer did not have authority over both islands and because of the rivalry between the two islands.

The Bailiff of Jersey Alexander Coutanche had already received a phone call from the British HQ in Guernsey when at 10.00 hrs HMS Beagle arrived and radioed for a German ship to meet them. A Kriegsmarine tug, FK01 sailed out, but without the Jersey commander on board. It was noon before Generalmajor Heine with the Bailiff of Jersey sailed out to HMS Beagle. After the Germans had signed the surrender documents at 14.00 hrs and had lunch, the civilians returned with pockets full of bars of soap and tobacco to Jersey, overtaken on route by a launch carrying the first Jersey Omelette troops, five signallers.

The RAF made an appearance, with flypasts by Mosquito’s at 13.00 hrs. The Jersey population had been told to be in Royal Square at 2pm, however the whole event was delayed. It was 14.30 hrs before the first group of less than 30 Omelette men, including Jersey born men, landed and marched to the Pomme d’Or Hotel where a massive crowd awaited them, Jersey girls being free with kisses and everybody exuberant which slowed the troops to 100 yards an hour. The swastika flag was removed and a Union Flag was draped from a balcony of the hotel which became the Task Force 135 HQ under Lt-Col Robinson, who made a speech to the crowd.

The Germans were told to remove all troops from a circle of one mile around the centre of St Helier, except for the hospital and guards on ammunition and weapon dumps. The flag flying over Fort Regent changed to the Union Flag at 17.00 hrs. British soldiers handed sweets to children and commented on how thin the islanders looked.

A large landing craft LCI(L)-130, carrying 200 additional Jersey Omelette personnel, including six Jersey men, arrived at 17.00 hrs just as another fly past, this time by RCAF Mustangs crossed St Helier. They scattered into small groups to take command of the town.

The Red Cross ship, SS Vega was in the harbour having recently arrived with the latest supply of Red Cross parcels for the starving civilians.

The main part of the Guernsey Omelette, comprising 160 men, who landed from a landing craft, LCI-103 at 14.15 hrs. Many more people had come to the town to see them, church bells were ringing and the soldiers were given flowers. The Germans had started clearing obstructions from the airport and disconnected sea minefields. 22 German officers were allocated to work at the British HQ to assist. Germans were appointed as drivers and took British soldiers in their cars to various locations, such as the airport.

Both islands were told the main force would arrive on C+3, Saturday 12 May when there would be a fitting ceremonial event in the presence of Brigadier Snow.

HMS Beagle sailed back to Guernsey, leaving HMS Cosby anchored off St Helier. HMS Beagle anchored of St Peter Port and HMS Bulldog sailed with Brigadier Snow back to Plymouth.

During the afternoon and evening of 9 May, on both islands, several young ladies were roughly handled by local men and women who had previously seen them in the company of German soldiers, as were other people who were considered quislings. A few people, including Germans, were arrested. There were a few injuries, mainly caused by children playing with German guns.

It appears that the first place liberated in Jersey may have been the British General Post Office Jersey repeater station. Mr Warder, a GPO lineman, had been stranded in the island during the occupation. He did not wait for the island to be liberated and went to the repeater station where he informed the German officer in charge that he was taking over the building on behalf of the British Post Office.

W-Day +6 (10 May)

File:Crowds of people gathered ouside the General Assurance Corporation building in St Peter Port, Guernsey to welcome the British Task Force sent to liberate the island from German occupation, 10 May 1945. D24590.jpg

Crowds of people gathered outside the General Assurance Corporation building in St Peter Port, Guernsey to welcome the British Task Force sent to liberate the island from German occupation, 10 May 1945. D24590

Embarkation of vehicles, equipment and men were being completed, small coasters carrying coal and fuel joined the assembling fleet. 10 Landing Ship, Tank (LST) were in the first lift, one British and 3 American for Jersey, with one British and 5 American for Guernsey. Troops boarded Landing ship, infantry (LSI), each LSI carried six Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) to take the troops ashore.

On Jersey, Robinson with an honour guard of British troops went for a march around the town, gathering a crowd as they progressed until arriving in Royal Square, they met the Bailiff and a symbolic raising of the Union Flag took place, accompanied by a Boys Brigade band playing the National Anthem. That afternoon a ceremony was held on the SS Vega where the Red Cross officials, Captain and crew were thanked and presented with gifts. In the evening a variety show was put on at the Opera House.

Minesweepers were busy sweeping clear channels across the English Channel and into Bailiwick waters, no mines were found.

The size of the German garrisons was clarified, they totalled 26,909 with Jersey having 11,671, Guernsey 11,755, Alderney 3,202 and Sark 281.

Allied prisoners of war held in the islands had already been released by the Germans and joined in the partying were gathered together for processing for return to England. Anglican and Roman Catholic services were held to mark the liberation.

A number of cases of assault against girls accused of being too friendly with Germans took place, with some men as well as Police and British soldiers standing up to the mobs to protect the girls. Others took the wise precaution of staying out of sight. One Jersey woman and her son were locked up for their own protection, and were still in jail in March 1946.

The liberation of Sark, Operation Marble took place earlier than planned due to reports of unrest amongst the Germans when a large fire was sighted and nobody was answering the telephone. At 16.00 hrs the German ship FK04 was taken and sailed across to the island with a small number of British troops. Landing safely, they were met by Sibyl Hathaway the Dame of Sark, who explained the bonfire was a celebration. Meeting the German commander at his headquarters, surrender documents were signed at Rosebud Cottage, after which the Germans were told to surrender weapons and start removing mines. The ship returned to Guernsey at 21.00 hrs leaving the Dame of Sark in charge of the 275 German soldiers until 17 May when most were removed.

W-Day +7 (11 May)

On the islands, work was underway to clear certain beaches and slipways of obstacles, mines and barriers to make them ready for the landing craft expected next day.

Warnings were issued to the public to take great care not to pillage, loot, enter minefields, pick up strange objects or weapons and to stay away from the proposed landing areas so that the vehicles coming ashore could safely land with men and supplies.

In Jersey, the Bailiff, Jurats and States officials met in the Royal Court with the senior British officers, the proceedings were conducted in French as normal, and at which the Orders of His Majesty in Council giving emergency powers were presented and approved and lodged au Greffe, making them law. Simultaneous services of thanksgiving were held in nine methodist churches, preparations for which had begun a year earlier.

Reports regarding the situation in the islands were quickly composed, covering fuel, food, health, hospital supplies, needs for evacuation to England, postal services to determine if any changes were necessary to the Nestegg plan. Members of the German Geheime Feldpolizei were rounded up.

A boat was sent to Sark to collect the Dame of Sark and she was entertained to lunch on HMS Beagle

The Guernsey first lift group, codename Agent comprising 13 ships assembled and sailed at 15.45 hrs from Plymouth under the escort of six ships and a liberator aircraft.

The Jersey group codenamed Booty followed 15 minutes later, escorted by a further six ships, mainly Canadian destroyers. All ships were ordered to keep a distance of 27,000 yards from Alderney as it was not known if they had surrendered.

C-Day (W-Day +8) (12 May)

The ships comprising Booty anchored off St Helier at 07.00 hrs, Agent off St Peter Port at 07.15 hrs. German troops were confined to barracks.

Guernsey’s Operation Prophet envisaged landings at L’Ancresse bay and in St Peter Port. At 08.30 the first LCA, docked on Baker Red the Castle Cornet breakwater, their objective to secure Castle Cornet, a fortified German strongpoint, commanding the harbour approaches. Thereafter a stream of LCA’s came ashore to Baker Green, the White Rock pier and Baker Red, their jobs were to secure the German defences in the harbour area. There were not many civilians to be seen, but within a short time, people began flocking into town, shouting and cheering. British military police kept them clear of the harbour piers.

People were astonished to see LST-516 enter the harbour at 09.00 hrs and nose between the Old Harbour entrance, to await the fall of the tide. Troops moved through the town securing buildings that had been German HQ’s, including the Crown Hotel, the Grange Lodge and telephone exchanges.

Proclamation Liberation Channel Islands 1945 Snow

Phase III started at 09.20 hrs landing a further 257 men, followed at 09.40 hrs with another load of men, including MI5 officers the press, signals and engineers. The soldiers landing were ignoring the civilians and concentrating on the set military objectives, moving further away from the town, securing Fort George, the waterworks at Kings Mills and L’Ancresse common, bicycles helping troops to move quickly.

Yet another official surrender took place at 11.00 hrs when Brigadier Snow accepted the formal surrender of the German garrison at the Crown Hotel. Meanwhile at L’Ancresse bay access to the beach was achieved. In town the audience was amazed to see DUKW’s swim ashore and drive onto the land, then at 13.40 the doors of LST-516 swung open and pre loaded lorries drove out over steel slats laid over the mud and up the slipway to the enthusiastic crowd.

Brigadier Snow, accompanied by various dignitaries and with the band of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) paraded through town, collecting a civilian following went to Elizabeth College at 14.00 where some 2,500 people witnessed the raising of the Union Flag and an official address including a message from the King, the Duke, was read out.

The majority of LST’s sailed for L’Ancresse bay, LST-516 withdrew when the tide had risen to be replaced in the old harbour by LST-295. Unloading would continue at night to suit the tide.

In Jersey, Operation Moselm followed a similar theme, securing Elizabeth Castle then creating a bridgehead in St Helier, securing casemates containing 10.5cm cannons and Pak 38(t) anti tank guns Mines designed to destroy the harbour piers were made safe, aircraft kept watch overhead, phase II had newly landed troops moving to secure the town of St Helier and German headquarters. Phase III started at 10.15 hrs bringing troops ashore to move inland and secure electricity and water facilities.

DUKW’s began to swim ashore and land, bringing supplies, LCI’s started docking. St Aubin’s bay was cleared for LST’s, numerous beach obstacles were destroyed and a gap created in the anti-tank beach wall. Jersey Scouts made themselves useful acting as messengers. A nine year old girl was killed when she stepping into the road and was hit by a motorcycle.

Brigadier Snow had left Guernsey and sailed to Jersey where at 18.00 hrs he participated in an historic proclamation reading in the Royal Square, where in 1781 a battle had taken place, resulting in the defeat of a French invasion force. Speeches and the message from the King were read out. Snow had been accompanied by the DCLI band who played the National Anthem and stirring marches, resulted in much audience singing.

C-Day +1 (13 May)

Unloading continued in each island, by the end of the day, 3,427 men and 299 vehicles had been unloaded in Guernsey. St Sampson’s harbour was brought into operation. German soldiers, now prisoners of war, were helping with the heavy work of unloading and moving supplies. 98% of weapons had been surrendered, the remaining ones were kept by Germans who were on guard duty.

In Jersey, St Aubin’s bay was opened for LST’s to discharge their cargoes, vehicles included ambulances, cranes, bulldozers, a steam roller and wireless trucks. Lorries brought £477,000 of money to the island banks in 128 boxes.

Empty LST’s were loaded with prisoners, around 800 per ship, who were eager to go as they had been promised food on board, almost resulting in a fight. German soldiers were half starved, the same as the islanders were.

C-Day +2 (14 May)

Unloading continued at St Aubin’s bay. Road traffic reverted to driving on the left. Postal services opened for business with free postcards made available for people to send messages to relatives overseas.

Germans were working well with the British forces. Locals watched German soldiers being taken off the island in silence. It was estimated that around 10,000 PoW’s would be taken off by the returning vessels from the first lift.

The British Home Secretary, the Right Honorable Herbert Morrison arrived in Jersey on the destroyer HMS Impulsive in the early evening, accompanied by other Government ministers and a Guernsey man Wallace Le Patourel VC.

C-Day +3 (15 May)

A formal States of Jersey sitting to honour the visitors took place, Morrison congratulating the island for maintaining their British connections and explaining that the islands were never far from the thoughts of the British Government during the five years of occupation. He attempted to explain that the Cabinet could not have helped the islanders in 1940, any fighting would have resulted in high casualties, similarly to have attempted to take the islands back by force would have resulted in many deaths.

Orders were issued for the restoration of Sterling whereby Reichsmarks would be exchanged at the rate of 9.36RM to £1, the same rate the Germans had used since 1942, until 23 May only. Sterling cash drawings from banks would be limited to £5 a week. The banks closed for two days so that accounts opened by evacuated islanders could be merged with local accounts.

Embarking of German PoW’s continued with Engineers, Naval and Luftwaffe being retained to continue work with the British. German troops were equally amazed by the strange Landing Ships.

C-Day +4 (16 May)

Special Police took over the tasks of guards on supply dumps, loud speakers were erected through St Helier creating a public address system. Distributions of tea, chocolate, soap powder, lard, sugar, biscuits, cereals and rice etc were made to civilians as the weekly rations were reorganised, increasing the daily calorie intake from the previous low of around 1,000.

Houses used by Germans and Organisation Todt (OT) workers were inspected and many were found to be in a terrible state, holes knocked through walls, wood ripped up for fuel, all needing disinfecting. German and OT hospitals were cleared and the buildings disinfected.

Police Courts opened for business, with a few civilians charged with theft, even of German equipment. Newspapers who had been desperate for newsprint, continued printing as supplies would shortly arrive.

Mines were being lifted and made safe, this process would go on until August, with 65,982 removed. This dangerous work would result in a number of German deaths and injuries. 5,689 beach obstacles and 100,000 metres of barbed wire were also removed. Weapons and shells needed to be collected and disposed of safely.

Operation Merit started when an armed trawler sailed for Alderney, carrying Brigadier Snow, officers and the Press. Accompanied by two LCI with support troops the coaster Beale, with supplies. Landing at Braye Harbour and met by the island Commandant, the parties moved to a house later called Peacehaven to discuss the surrender details. Civil Affairs officers began interrogating OT workers, guards, prison officials and the few civilians present about the four camps on Alderney about which stories of brutality abounded, with the object of holding an enquiry.

Aftermath

Liberation Monument, Guernsey

The liberation of the Channel Islands was now complete and the tidy up and reconstruction of the islands was beginning.

The Germans had not tried to demolish any facilities, even so, innumerable problems would need sorted, from paying compensation for requisitioned assets, and damage to houses, furniture, greenhouses and businesses during the occupation. Taxation of war profiteers, including those involved in the black market. Considering whether people should be prosecuted for crimes committed during the occupation and others who should be publicly praised for their actions. Regenerating the growing and tourist industries. Paying off the massive public debts, Jersey owed £5,960,000 and Guernsey £4,232,000.

Romances occurred, one British soldier kissed a girl on the 19th, proposed on the 21st but was sent to Alderney next day, on his return in July, they married within 24 hours.

The population would shortly be experiencing problems as tens of thousand of evacuated and deported civilians, especially children, many now grown up and realising their parents did not know them, returning to the islands, followed by the men in Demob suits.

There were sick, both physical and mental who never recovered from the experience. The anger and fear that would affect the population for decades before time would allow an element of forgiveness. Rationing would continue until the mid 1950's. Guy Fawkes parties into the 1960’s dressed guys in German uniforms.

The last Germans, including those on Alderney, would leave on 20 May, to join the 400,000 German PoW's in Britain, except for 1,500 in Guernsey, 1,300 in Jersey and 500 in Alderney who were retained for essential clearing up. the King and Queen would fly to Jersey, then Guernsey for brief visits on 7 June. The food for lunch for the Royal couple and guests comprised tinned steak and kidney pie and tinned fruit, the same as the German PoW’s and British soldiers were eating. The first evacuees would start to arrive from 25 June, Alderney residents would have to wait for December before their island was safe enough to return to, the houses had been very badly damaged. In December a number of honours would be awarded with the two Bailiffs and Jurat Leale being knighted, four CBE’s and a number of OBE’s and BEM’s were also awarded to civil servants and civilians. Alderney had changed the most, many civilians did not return, they would agree major changes to their constitution in 1948.

Remembering the liberation has changed over the years, the 9th of May is a public holiday in Guernsey and Jersey. For some islanders it is a chance to party, for others a day of quiet remembrance. Liberation was an end for some and a beginning for others.

See also

• German occupation of the Channel Islands
• Evacuation of civilians from the Channel Islands in 1940
• Deportations from the German-occupied Channel Islands
• Civilian life under the German occupation of the Channel Islands
• Living with the enemy in the German-occupied Channel Islands

References

Bibliography

• Cruickshank, Charles G. (1975), The German Occupation of the Channel Islands, The Guernsey Press, ISBN 0-902550-02-0
• Forty, George, Channel Islands at War: A German Perspective , (2005), Ian Allan Publishing, ISBN 978-0711030718
• Lamerton, Mark, Liberated by Force 135: the Liberation of the Channel Islands, May 1945 (2000), Ex Libris Press, ISBN 978-1903341605
• Pether, John (1998), The Post Office at War and Fenny Stratford Repeater Station, Bletchley Park Trust Reports, 12, Bletchley Park Trust
• Tabb, Peter A Peculiar Occupation, New Perspectives on Hitler's Channel Islands (2005), Ian Allan Publishing , ISBN 978-0711031135