German Occupation

The Occupation of Jersey by German Forces during the Second World War commenced on the 1 July 1940. The Occupation was to last for nearly five years and eventually ended on the 9 May 1945 – Liberation Day. The Occupation remains one of the most fascinating periods in Jersey's recent history.

The United Kingdom government provided ships to evacuate women, children and men who wished to join the forces when it seemed that Occupation was inevitable. Though just over 23,000 registered to evacuate, the total number of Jersey residents who actually evacuated was under 10,000.

A number of United Kingdom and some Jersey born residents of the Channel Islands were deported to internment camps at Biberach, Wurzach, Dorsten and Laufen in Germany. Hitler originally conceived this measure as a reprisal for the internment of German citizens in Iran working against the Allies. The Führer also considered United Kingdom-born residents as a security threat.

Occupation Timeline

1939

Sunday 3rd of September

Brtiain at war with Germany

1940

Sunday 16 to Tues 18 June

20 small boats from Jersey help with the evacuation of British troops from St Malo.

Fri 28 June

Six German bombers kill ten people in an air raid before moving on to attack Guernsey.

Mon 1 July

First German troops arrive. The island is occupied.

1941

January

All islanders over the age of 14 required to carry an ID card.

1942

Thursday 17 September

First of more than 1,200 islanders deported from Jersey to internment camps in Germany.

1943

Sat 25 December

British commando raid in Trinity.

1944

Tues 6 June

D-Day Allies land in Normandy

Wed 16 August

St Malo captured by the Americans; Jersey is cut off.

1945

Thursday 4 January

Islanders are issued with their first Red Cross parcels delivered by the SS Vega earlier in the week.

Wed 9 May

After 1,773 days of occupation Jersey is finally liberated by British troops of Task Force 136.