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Hitlers's Fortress Islands Hpb
1967. First Edition. 157 pages. Paperback book with pictorial cover. Black and white photographs. Pages and binding are presentable with no major defects. Minor issues present such as mild cracking, inscriptions, inserts, light foxing, tanning and thumb marking. Overall a good condition item. Paper cover has mild edge-wear with light rubbing and creasing. Some light marking and tanning.
Paperback
First published April 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 18, 2018
Lacks a fair bit of historical context and revels in anti-German jibes with the vehemence of those who actually suffered under the Nazis, but is a fascinating photo essay of a unique event in WW2 - "Britain" under occupation.
August 12, 2017
Designed to accompany "Islands in Danger" by Alan and Mary Wood, this New English Library Edition provides a photo-history of the German occupation of British soil during WWII. Most evidence of the fortifications in Jersey, Guernsey, Sark and Alderney are long gone/closed up, and the Channel Island's role during WWII is mentioned in a single line, if at all, by most historians.
That they played a critical role is highlighted by the rare pictures shown throughout this book. With Hitler issuing OKW commands that the islands be prepared for attack at any time, an entire German division spent the majority of the war occupying the islands without ever fighting. The islands were better fortified than much of France, with precious resources spent building up robust island fortifications - that were never used - rather than fighting and fortifying against D-Day.
At the same time, those islanders who neglected, or opted not, to evacuate in the confusing period when invasion was imminent, attempted to placate their occupiers, silently object in order to survive, while slowly running out of everything, particularly food. Both the Channel natives and the Germans ended up appealing to the Red Cross for help.
What the book omits, and what may not have been available at publication date in 1967, is any reference to now known existing forced labor camps. Although there are pictures of Russian prisoners of war, who helped construct much of the fortifications, there were at least five labor camps on the islands. There was a rumour of a camp at Alderney (where we now know there were four), based upon ship traffic, but the book confirms the existence only of a cemetery after the war.
At 160 pages, this is really more of a lengthy pamphlet than a book, providing a summary of the occupation (chronologically, then briefly mentioning remote islands), its impact on the residents, the liberation, and most important, those wartime photos. The majority of the pictures were taken during (or immediately after) the war by Channel Islanders at great personal risk. An interesting glimpse into a small pocket of the war.
That they played a critical role is highlighted by the rare pictures shown throughout this book. With Hitler issuing OKW commands that the islands be prepared for attack at any time, an entire German division spent the majority of the war occupying the islands without ever fighting. The islands were better fortified than much of France, with precious resources spent building up robust island fortifications - that were never used - rather than fighting and fortifying against D-Day.
At the same time, those islanders who neglected, or opted not, to evacuate in the confusing period when invasion was imminent, attempted to placate their occupiers, silently object in order to survive, while slowly running out of everything, particularly food. Both the Channel natives and the Germans ended up appealing to the Red Cross for help.
What the book omits, and what may not have been available at publication date in 1967, is any reference to now known existing forced labor camps. Although there are pictures of Russian prisoners of war, who helped construct much of the fortifications, there were at least five labor camps on the islands. There was a rumour of a camp at Alderney (where we now know there were four), based upon ship traffic, but the book confirms the existence only of a cemetery after the war.
At 160 pages, this is really more of a lengthy pamphlet than a book, providing a summary of the occupation (chronologically, then briefly mentioning remote islands), its impact on the residents, the liberation, and most important, those wartime photos. The majority of the pictures were taken during (or immediately after) the war by Channel Islanders at great personal risk. An interesting glimpse into a small pocket of the war.
April 17, 2020
A decent pictorial history but gives a lot less information than I had hoped for. I guess it is a companion book to another history of the occupation of the Channel Islands, but only mentions the other book once.
August 29, 2022
A good brief photographic history of the Occupation of the Channel Islands, during WW2. A descent starting point, for further research on the subject of the German Occupation of the Islands.
May 21, 2023
Very educational
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews