Did you know a part of Britain was under Nazi Occupation for 5 years?

Channel 4 ^ | May 26 | Channel 4

[RandFan]

This is on UK TV this week. Very interesting about the Channel Islands which was seized and under Nazi occupation for much of the war.

They couldn't have done it without collaborators and such.

It's quite controversial apparently....

[BobL]

“Did you know a part of Britain was under Nazi Occupation for 5 years?”

...and counting.

[wally_bert]

I saw some mini series on PBS a long time ago about the channel islands taken by the Germans.

Give me the classic Bergerac series for anything Jersey related entertainment.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Thanks. BTW, there are couple of earlier TV shows on the occupation, both of which are available on Prime Video. I started watching one of them over a year ago (I think "Enemy at the Door") but only saw one or two episodes as it was the normal melodramatic WW II fare.

• Island at War (2004): A British drama set on the fictional island of St Gregory, representing Guernsey and Jersey. Follows three families (Dorrs, Mahys, Jonases) and German officers during the occupation. Six 70-minute episodes, filmed in the Isle of Man. Focuses on moral dilemmas and daily life under Nazi rule. Criticized for historical inaccuracies but praised for compelling drama.
• Enemy at the Door (1978–1980): Set in Guernsey, this British series explores daily life under German occupation, focusing on islanders like Dr. Philip Martel and German Major Dieter Richter. Two seasons, filmed in Jersey, showing tensions, collaboration, and resistance. Noted for nuanced portrayal of both sides, though criticized for softening grim realities.
• Britain Under the Nazis: The Forgotten Occupation (2025): A two-part Channel 4 documentary marking the 80th anniversary of the islands’ liberation. Uses eyewitness accounts, diaries, and letters, with historians Gilly Carr and Louise Willmot. Covers collaboration, resistance, and persecution, including Jewish deportations.

The Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark) were the only British territories occupied by Nazi Germany (1940–1945). These shows depict the complex dynamics of occupation, though historical accuracy varies.

[DallasBiff]

[Vigilanteman]

National Geographic (before it went all global warming and climate change all of the time) published a great article on the Channel Islands some years ago.

As I recall, around D-Day, the Nazis got their more vicious officers off the islands because they were needed on the mainland.

The lower ranked guys who replaced them actually worked with the locals to preserve the heritage dairy cattle breeds named after the two main islands despite considerable hardship in doing so.

[Sirius Lee]

Considering what England has become, what the hell is the difference?

[rktman]

There is a dramatization of this on one of the networks. Pretty decent show as I recall. But, I can’t remember the name of it.

[Leaning Right]

> ...and counting. <

What are you talking about? The Nazi occupation is over.
Oh, wait. I get it now. Good one.

[decal]

Yes, “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”

Currently on Netflix, I think.

[irishjuggler]

Island at War (2004), mentioned above.

It was a good series, though it’s been knocked for historical inaccuracies.

[RandFan]

Yes I’m going to watch this one they’re using actual diaries and accounts to enact it.

Apparently it’s still controversial to this day

I’m sure they will make it available to an international audience on some platform !

[Fungi]

An article posted on FR a long time ago dealt with this. It recounted how locals would skim off the cream so butter was hard to make and then criticized the German authorities on how they could not make butter.

[Navy Patriot]

Did you know a part of Britain was under Nazi Occupation for 5 years?

Yes, after the war, it spread slowly across all of the UK.

[RandFan]

I knew we’d get those quips! 😂

A few Freepers tell me a program called “Escape to the Country(side)” airs internationally

That gives you a more balanced view of England especially outside the cities where it’s quite pleasant and unspoilt

[9YearLurker]

Yeah, until M Markle dragged Prince Ding-Dong to the US with her!

[HartleyMBaldwin]

the heritage dairy cattle breeds named after the two main islands

Used to be a breed of dairy cattle named after Alderney, too, but it was absorbed into the Guernsey breed during that time.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Channel Islands. I remember reading of this decades ago. I believe there was a movie with this occupation as a start.
Triple Cross (1966 film) comes to mind.

[stanne]

“ Considering what England has become, what the hell is the difference?”

None

[Navy Patriot]

I knew we’d get those quips!

Yep, what's changed in "Britain" since the Norsk and Roman expeditions, is just the group that is subject to the standard Tyranny in place, and the group that is running it.

It's Good To Be King, but don't lose your head about it.