Jersey War

Tunnels is one of
the Island’s most
important historical
landmarks. It is a
reminder of the
hard times Islanders
faced during the
Occupation.

As you walk around

the tunnels, try to
imagine what it
would be like to be
living in Jersey under
German rule...

for five long years.

n d c h a ng e?
did the isla
How
an ger s d i d
What d d e rs fa ce ?
the isla n
Jersey War Tunnels

In the
beginning..
.

The Channel Islands were the only part of land

belonging to Great Britain to be occupied by
German forces in the Second World War.
During the 1930s (before the Occupation) Jersey was a peaceful holiday
resort that offered sunshine and beautiful beaches to mostly British tourists.
The Island’s main income came from tourism, and the selling of potatoes and
flowers. Whilst Jersey was busy with agriculture, Adolf Hitler was planning to turn
Germany into a world power.

Even when Islanders heard on their wirelesses that the German forces had
reached St. Malo in Northern France (only 14 miles away), the sun was still
shining and war seemed far away.

They had no idea about what was to come...

Word Check!
Occupied a place under the control of the enemy.
Occupation the period of time that the enemy had control over a place.
Income money gained through work or trade.
Adolf Hitler a German politician who became Chancellor of Germany in
1933 and declared himself ‘Fuhrer’ (leader) in 1934.
Islander a person that lives on an island.
Wireless an old fashioned word for a radio.
 World events leading up to the
German Occupation of Jersey
On the timeline below plot the world events (given on the next page) in chronological order leading up
to the day Jersey was occupied by the Germans. Place the world events above the line and the Jersey/
British events below the line.
Jersey War Tunnels

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July

1933 1934 1939 1940
Jersey War Tunnels

Sort the events below into chronological order and plot

them onto the timeline. This will illustrate the lead
up to the German Occupation of Jersey.

16 & 17/06/1940 around

09/04/1940 Germans
begin landings in
Denmark and Norway.
19/06/1940 Decision
made that Jersey would
not be defended.
Islanders given 24 hours to
decide to leave or stay.
19 boats leave from
Jersey to help evacuate
British troops from St Malo,
blowing up the port as
they left.
14/06/1940 Germans
invade Paris.

13/05/1940 Winston
01/09/1939 Germans
Churchill becomes Prime
invade Poland.
Minister of Britain.

1933 Adolf Hitler becomes

28/06/1940 Air raids on
Chancellor of Germany.
St Helier, Jersey and St
Peter Port, Guernsey.

10/05/1940 Germans
begin to invade Holland,
01/07/1940 Germans Belgium then France.
begin to arrive in Jersey.

20-29/06/1940 25,484
1934 Adolf Hitler declares evacuees from the
himself as ‘Fuhrer’ (leader). Channel Islands land at
Weymouth in England.
Jersey War Tunnels

The German invasion of Europe

1. Label the countries that were invaded by Germany in the
Second World War.
2. Use colour to show how the Germans spread through Europe. Begin
lightly for the first invasion, and get darker as time goes on. For instance,
Poland would be coloured in the lightest, then Holland and Belgium
would be a bit darker, and France would be slightly darker still.
3. Use the key to show how the colour illustrates
the date.

What you need:

• Timeline
• Atlas
• Other information about
the Second World War

Key:
Jersey War Tunnels

What would you take?

“Channel Islands will not, repeat not be defended against
external invasions by sea or air.”
Telegram from Whitehall, 19th June 1940

Since hearing the announcement that your home will not be defended
against the Germans in the war, your parents have decided that it would
be best to leave for England. They feel it would be safer for you, although
it was a very hard decision.
It’s midnight now, and you have to leave for the harbour in a few hours
to make sure you get a place on the boat. You are allowed to take one
small suitcase with you... what shall you pack?
Remember, you may not see your house again and this suitcase will be all
you have for a while.

Packing List

Why would you

pack that?

Remember you
can’t take
much!
 Jersey War Tunnels

A Discussion cards: To leave or stay?

You were born here and feel that you should be loyal to your home.
This may mean that you have to live under the control of the Germans
and go through some hard times. You have a wife and a 15 year old
son. You live in and own a food shop in town which is very popular with
the locals.

Should you be brave and loyal to your island?

Would your family be better off in England?

To leave or stay?

You are a mother of three young children and your husband is in the
RAF (Royal Air Force) in the war. If you went to England you would be
able to see your husband, and your children could see their daddy
much more often and easily.

But, England is being bombed and Jersey isn’t. What is best for your
children?

To leave or stay?

You are a father of two children aged 10 and 11 years old. You are
a policeman here in Jersey and feel that it is your duty to stay in the
Island. Your wife does not want to leave your side. Would your children
be safer in England on their own with people you and they don’t
know? Or would it be safer for them to stay in Jersey with their family
and friends, where the Germans could do anything?

To leave or stay?
 Jersey War Tunnels

B Discussion cards: To leave or stay?

You are a child of 14. Your parents have decided to stay on the Island
to face whatever the war brings. They would prefer you to stay, but
have said that if you feel you really want to leave
you can.

It seems as if all your friends are leaving, yet you want to stay with your
mum and dad. You don’t know what England would be like; you have
never left Jersey before. It seems exciting to leave, and maybe safer -
although the war could last for a week or for the rest of your life.
To leave or stay?

You are a young woman with a baby. Your husband is fighting in the
Army, so evacuating to England would mean you have a stronger
chance of seeing him. You firstly decide to leave for yours and your
baby’s sake. You pack up some precious belongings and give away
the rest of your things to friends and family that are staying (including
your car and cat).

You arrive at the harbour to see thousands of people in the queue and
a small, open cement boat which will be what you travel in to England.
The journey will be very long and your baby will suffer from the cold
and lack of food and drink.
To leave or stay?

You are a single man of 22 years old.

You would like to fight for your country in the British Army which would
mean leaving on the boat for England. You also want to be loyal
and brave for your Island, which may mean staying and facing the
Germans. You have friends that are going to fight in the war, and
friends that are staying with their families to stay faithful to their Island.
To leave or stay?
 Jersey War Tunnels

What was life in jersey

like under German rule?
Complete the table below, thinking about all the
new rules that the Germans brought to the Island.
Compare life before the Occupation with life during
the Occupation. Think about all types and ages of
people, and all aspects of life... how were people
affected?
Before the German During the German
Occupation Occupation
01/07/1940 > 09/05/1945

electricity

transport

curfew

pets

food

social
clubs

clothes