Channel Islands at War: A German Perspective [Hardcover]

George Forty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2000

This text provides the reader with a portrait of life in the Channel Islands between 1940 and 1945, much of it from the standpoint of the occupying forces. It draws upon first-hand reminiscenes and a selection of historic photographs.'

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lt-Col George Forty is the retired curator of the Tank Museum at Bovington where he took over after a career with the Royal Tank Regiment stretching back to the early 1950s. He is a well-known military writer, who has contributed numerous books to the Ian Allan Publishing list over the years. His most recent titles include Fortress Europe, Battle for Malta and Battle for Monte Cassino. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711026785
• ISBN-13: 978-0711026780
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,278,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Channel Island's Occupation, February 19, 2005

By 

Kay's Husband (Virginia, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Channel Islands at War: A German Perspective (Hardcover)

This larger hardcover book, though similiar to the softcover Battleground Europe book on the channel islands, offers a much more depth of detail and pictorial coverage.

These 4 islands of less than 100,000 people, were occupied by the Germans for 5 years during World War II. The Germans invaded in the summer of 1940, and were there until 1945. Through those years they were occupied and fortified. Though the occupation was fairly pacific, the "hunger winter" of 1944-45 took its toll. The islands were also to see much activity by German civilian bureaucrats, and Organization Todt (OT).

The original troops earmarked for invasion were there only for a short time, when they were pulled out, to be replaced by other older less battle worthy. With the original troops to be sent to the Eastern Front. The original commandant Major Dr. Lanz would himself too die on the Russian front. All the island troops were known as the "Canada" troops, for most German soldiers felt that should the islands be retaken by the Allies, the occupying German troops would end their days in a Canadian POW camp.

These islands came to direct German notice due their proximity to France during the air war of 1940. They were to be used as part of Operation Sea Lion, the German invasion of Britain that never occured. Adolf Hitler always held great and continuing interest in these 4 islands, intending their use as a place for rest and relaxtion for the German peoples after the war ended.

The subtitle of this volume is "A German Perspective" and as such uses many photographs taken by the German occupiers themselves. There are maps and photographs in abundance.

As stated in my review of the softcover, "Channel Islands," my interest was piqued by the fictional writings of Jack Higgins. He has included bits and pieces in some of his novels, plus he is reported to reside on one of them. So, if you are somewhat like me, you may find this book, or the softcover, of riveting interest.

Semper Fi.