ISLAND FORTRESS

Jersey was the only part of British soil occupied by the Nazis during World War II. Hitler's aim was to turn Jersey into an impregnable fortress as part of his 'Atlantic Wall' defence.
Even though the British government had given up the island without a fight as it had no strategic value, for Hitler it was a propaganda coup with pictures of German soldiers in command of British subjects playing well at home.
His generals were sceptical about the 'wall' plan but more than 5,000 men from Russia, Poland, Spain and other countries were brought to Jersey to work as slave labourers on the fortifications.
The island is dotted with these bunkers and fortifications particularly along St. Ouen's Bay and St. Aubin's Bay where the concrete sea walls and bunkers still remain. Some are in use today, such as the observation tower at Corbiere now used to moniter local shipping and the cafe at El Tico on the Five Mile Road.

The photo above is of a German naval observation tower at Noirmont on the south west coast of Jersey. At low tide you can see a number of large artillery guns at the foot of the cliff, they were dumped there by the liberating British forces at the end of the war.

Comments

[arthur robinson]

having seen all the german work at the norimont
point,and all over the island it was of great
work and sacifice that the slave workers and
all others should never be forgotten, and also
it is well worth a look for all who is interested in the second world war.

[Julie Greaves]

As an Australian, looking at the german fortifications and the underground hospital, it brought the German occupation home to me and I finally realised how my grandmothers people had suffered,as did all the island people.

[Inquiring Mind]

Is it true the citizens of Jersey helped the Nazis deport Jews?

[bean]

As an ex-pat Jerseyman I would like to remind the writers of this site that Jersey was not "the only part of British soil occupied by the Nazis".

The whole of the Channel Islands are "British soil" and all were occupied.

Please do not be rude to our fellow Channel Islanders by leaving out their suffering!

[Heather Bush]

actually, I wish to correct this misinformation - in fact the other large island of the Channel Islands GUERNSEY was also under German occupation during WW II. I know this as fact because it is part of my heritage as my grandfather Jean Auguste Baptiste Hantonne was forced to work under close scrutiny of the occupying troops.

[Johnny Wilkins]

I have to correct you about the guns being at the bottom of the tower. There are no guns below the tower at Noirmont, they are below the tower at Les Landes.

[Johnny Wilkins]

I have to correct you about the guns being at the bottom of the tower. There are no guns below the tower at Noirmont, they are below the tower at Les Landes.