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The occupation of the Channel Isles was such an historical event that to refer solely to Jersey in this period would not be justified.
I will, therefore, also be giving an overview of life in the other Islands at this period of time.
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September 3rd. 1939 Britain declares War on Germany.
The much anticipated bombing and gas attacks on Britain did not materialise and a lengthy period of inactivity created a false sense of security, this period was commonly known as the 'Phoney War'
In the Channel Islands the full reality of the War between Britain and Germany was so remote, that in early 1940 Jersey was advertising on a poster that it was 'The Ideal Resort for Wartime Holidays'
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The coast of France, June 1940. The German High Command observing their next objective, Great Britain. Before any invasion of England could be attempted, it was imperative that the Luftwaffe had control of the skies. The Battle for France was now over, The Battle of Britain was about to begin.
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The British War Office were of the opinion that the Channel Isles were of no strategic importance to the German forces. The German Chiefs of staff had other ideas! On June 20th. 1940 a radio message from Berlin to commanders in France stated ;''The capture of the British Channel Isles is necessary and urgent'' The commanding officer assigned for the invasion Admiral Karlgeorg Schuster of the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) sent out reconnaissance aircraft to try an establish the amount of opposition he could expect.
The British Home Office had failed to announce that the Islands had been 'Demilitarised ' the reconnaissance photographs indicated lorries lined up at the quaysides in St. Peters Port Guernsey, and at St.Helier Jersey. Thinking militarily, it did not occur that the lorries were loaded with tomatoes and potatoes.
German Intelligence reports at that time indicated that British troops were still on the Channel Isles. Had the British Government declared that the Islands were undefended, the orders that followed may not have been given....
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