ZOOM History talk at 6 pm on Wednesday 24th April - The German Occupation of The Channel Islands in WW2

A talk titled ‘The German Occupation of The Channel Islands in WW2’ will be given via ZOOM at 6 pm on Wednesday 24th April by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) James Porter, who is a Guernseyman. The talk is given in support of The Keep Military Museum in Dorchester and there is a charge of £5 to attend. The talk will be recorded and anyone unable to attend on 24th April will receive an electronic copy. Anyone wishing to attend should contact: [email protected]

When the Second World War began the Channel Islands were regarded as a safe backwater, far from the front line. But the German Blitzkrieg of 1940 which resulted in the total collapse of the French Army in a shockingly short time changed all of this. Suddenly the British Government was faced by the need to decide if the islands should be defended, and if not, should the populations be evacuated. This talk looks at the background to the German Occupation of the islands, the hurriedly organised evacuations, the arrival of German forces and their changing relationships with the island governments and with the island populations. It examines the daily life on the islands and the privations of the civilian populations as the War progressed and food became increasingly scarce for both islander and occupier. The talk covers the massive construction programme of fortifications carried out in order to make the islands a formidable part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall. British Commando raids are covered, as well as the military actions taking place on or near the islands.