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To
defend or not to defend?
When
the Germans occupied France in 1940, the Lieutenant-Governor of
Jersey asked the War Office what would be done to protect Jersey
from the Germans.
On
17 June 1940, the decision was made that Jersey would not be defended.
All troops and military equipment were to be removed from the island.
Evacuation
Ships
were sent to evacuate anyone who wished to leave the island. Those
who did wish to leave were told to register at the Town Hall - by
the end of the next day, more than 23,000 islanders had registered.
A lot
of the islanders who had registered changed their minds, whilst
others tried to get onto the ships but were turned away. Of the
23,000 that had registered, only 6,500 actually left.
Homes
were ransacked - evacuees could only take what they could carry,
and cars and pets were abandoned. The banks ran out of money as
people tried to withdraw their savings.
Arrival
of the Germans
On
the 28 June 1940, the Germans bombed St. Helier harbour and La Rocque.
They did not know that Jersey was undefended - England had kept
it quiet.
Once
the Germans knew the islands were undefended, they immediately occupied
them. On 1 July 1940, a paper ultimatum was dropped over Jersey
- the islanders had to show their willingness to comply with the
Germans by flying white flags from all buildings.
About
a hundred German troops arrived that day. Anti-aircraft and machine
gun posts were set up, and a list of orders was issued for islanders
to follow - these included a curfew from 11pm to 5am, and a ban
on the sale of spirits.
By
December 1940 there were 1,750 Germans on Jersey. Within a year
this had increased to 11,500.
More
on the Occupation on the next page, where you can find out how life
changed for the islanders, including informants and illicit activities...
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