That Was Jersey |
Local history for everyone |
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
The first enemy activity occurred on June 28th 1940 with a bombing raid that evening. Bombs were dropped at La Rocque, and in areas near the harbour and the Weighbridge in St Helier. Ten people were killed and many others injured. There were further alarms over the next couple of days, but no more attacks.
German planes flew low over the Island on 1st July, dropping messages for the authorities, demanding the surrender of the Island. White flags were to be flown and white crosses marked out at several key places like the airport. The States met urgently and agreed to the terms of surrender, as they had been advised to do by the British government.
By the end of that day, there was a small Occupying Force of about 100 men. The German Commander had met with the Bailiff, and the Island was under German rule. Guernsey had been occupied the previous day.
The small force was added to when about 1750 German soldiers flew into Jersey, and marched into St Helier. Altogether there were about 11,500 German soldiers sent to occupy Jersey. Their first military HQ was the Town Hall in St Helier. They also took over many other buildings for their own use. Some of these properties were looked after, but many of them suffered badly over the years of Occupation, and some were even burned or blown up!
Changes were made that affected everyone. The first of many orders was issued. There was a curfew, which meant that everyone had to be indoors by 11.00 p.m. and no one could go out before 5.00 a.m. each morning. No one was allowed near the airport; boat movements in and out of the harbour were allowed only with a special licence from the German authorities. No cars were allowed for private use, although doctors and certain essential deliveries were still allowed petrol supplies.
All clocks were moved forward an hour to conform to Central European Time (as in Germany), and it was forbidden to listen to any wireless (radio broadcast) unless the station was controlled by Germany. These restrictions, and others, were all issued on the 2nd July, losing no time in stamping the authority of the Occupiers onto Island life. Orders dated July 2nd 1940
Further instructions related to members of the British military forces. Some Jerseymen who were serving with the British forces had come home on leave to visit their families, and were in the Island when the Germans arrived. This meant they became prisoners of war and there were about 90 men who had to report daily to the Occupying forces. They were interned in a camp at Grouville, before being sent on to Germany as Prisoners of War towards the end of the month. Incidentally, the camp at Grouville had been used to keep German prisoners in the first months of the war, before the Germans became the Occupying Power. Orders dated 8th July 1940
On 14 October 1940 further restrictions were placed on the local population, following an escape from Guernsey. The curfew was extended, and from 8.00 p.m. until 8.00 a.m. everyone had to be indoors.