German Occupation troop movements

German troop movements 1940-1942

German troops salute as the Swastika flag flew over Jersey Airport on 1 July 1940

These excerpts are taken from a Belgian website first published in 2020, but no longer existing

1940

After the allied defeat in France the British government decided on 15 June 1940 that the Channel Islands were of no strategic importance and would not be defended. However, official news of the demillitarisation was not released until 30 June 1940. Thus, the Germans had not idea that the islands were demilitarised.

The Germans were preparing to invade the islands with two infantry battalions in a military operation called Operation Grünpfeil. Reconnaissance missions carried out by the Luftwaffe were inconclusive as to the military presence on the islands

UK Government decision

Chaos and confusion reigned in the days leading to the British Government's decision not to defend the Channel Islands and to withdraw all troops. On 19 June 1940 the Lieut-Governor, Major-General James Harrison, was called into the Bailiff's Chambers to take a telephone call from Major-General Arthur Percival, who was Assistant Chief of the Imperial General Staff at the War Office. He wrote down the conversation on the first piece of paper he could find – a Local Savings Committee envelope. This is now in the possession of Jersey Heritage.

The envelope reads: “War Cabinet decision is that the Island of Jersey is to be demilitarised. All troops to be withdrawn. Further issues regarding Lieutenant Governor will be sent.” This was the first time the Island heard that it was to be demilitarised, which in turn made Occupation inevitable.

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Evacuation

• Between 16 and 20 June the military evacuation too place.
• Between 21-23 June civilians were evacuated, with about one-third of the total population leaving.

Bombings

On 28 June the Luftwaffe bombed the harbours of Guernsey (St Peter Port) and Jersey (St Helier). Mistaking some trucks waiting to load tomatoes in St Peter Port (Guernsey) for troop carriers, they killed 35 civilians. A further nine were killed in a similar attack on Jersey. It was only after these attacks that the BBC broadcast the message that the Channel Islands had been declared 'open towns'.

On 30 June 1940 a high-level conference was held in Paris. Here it was decided that operation Grünpfeil was to go ahead. The original plan had been for the attack on the islands to involve six lightly-equipped battalions (three for Jersey, two for Guernsey and one for Alderney). In addition, a Marinestosstruppabteilung and two engineer companies were also to take part. As not enough suitable ships were available, the operation would have to be carried out over two days (first Jersey and Alderney and then Gurensey).

After learning that the bombardment of 28 June had not produced any military response, it was decided to use just two battalions (one each for Jersey and Guernsey) and one company for Alderney. Troops would be provided by the 216 Infanteriedivision and the Kriegsmarineabteilung Gotenhafen. The Luftwaffe would also provide some light AA-guns.

On the same day, a German pilot (air reconnaissance had been going on since about 18 June), Hauptmann Liebe-Pieteritz, landed his plane (from a group of four) on Guernsey's airfield, finding it deserted and undefended. On the basis of his report, Luftflotte 3 decided that the islands were not defended.

Guernsey landing

On the evening of the same day a group of Luftwaffe troops from Aufklärungsgruppe 123, under the command of Hauptmann von Obernitz, and the overall command of Major Hessel of the Heer, were flown into Guernsey by Junkers transport planes. Inspector Sculpher, of the Guernsey police, was sent to meet them carrying a letter signed by the Bailiff stating that the island had been declared an open island and that there were no armed forces. He also found the airport having been taken over by the Luftwaffe.

In the early morning of 1 July Major Lanz, the commander of the II Bataillon/Infanterieregiment 396 of the 216 Infanteriedivision was summoned to the headquarters of Vizeadmiral Landau in Cherbourg, where he was informed that he was to organise an infantry company, a troop of heavy MGs and, if possible, some Infanteriegeschütze for an invasion of the Channel Islands. After considerable further discussion on expected threats, it was eventually decided that just one infantry company (the 1 Kompanie) from Lanz's unit, reinforced by the heavy MG, and the Gotenhafen naval assult unit, would constitute the assault force. They would be transported in nine Junkers 52 transport aircraft.

Still waiting for the transport aircraft, several high-ranking officers appeared at the Cherbourg West airfield at Querqueville: Oberstleutnant Gene (CO of the IR396 and accompanied by his adjutant Oberleutnant Niebuhr), Oberstleutnant Plocher (COS of Fliegerkorps 5) and even Generalfeldmarschall Sperrle (CO of Luftflotte 3). With only two of the nine transport aircraft having arrived, the operation was started.

Two platoons of Gotenhafen were loaded and the two aircaft departed, accompanied by the Junkers aircraft of Plocher and a Junkers radio aircraft. Lanz landed on the airfield at Guernsey at 2.45pm. There he was met by Major Hessel and the German flag was flown. Then the other transport aicraft began arriving.

At about 4pm Generalleutnant Böttcher, the commander of the 216 Infanteriedivision, and Vizeadmiral Lindau arrived. Major Hessel handed over command of the island to Major Lanz. Lanz asked to be taken to the island's leader. Hessel and Lanz (together with an interpreter (presumably Major Maas of the Gotenhafen unit) went by police car to the Royal Hotel, where they were joined by the bailiff. Hessel announced that he had come to take leave and had handed over command to Lanz. They then returned to the airport, where meanwhile more transport aircraft had landed, carrying the other troops. There could be no doubt that Guernsey had now been occupied. Lanz was now also the Inselkommandant.

Jersey

On 1 July Jersey officialy surrendered, although this happened in a rather uncoventional way. Vizeadmiral Landau had ordered messages calling for the surrender of Jersey and Alderney to be dropped on the islands on 1 July. In the absence of any response, two aircraft were dispatched to find out what was going on.

The plane headed for Jersey was piloted by Leutnant Kern. After landing on the airfield he was taken to the Bailiff, who was informed that the island was now under German occupation. Kern then departed for Guernsey and informed Lanz that Jersey was ready to surrender. Lanz then flew to Jersey, where he was met by at the airfield by Hauptmann von Obernitz, who had landed there earlier with his men.

Later, Lanz was joined by other Junkers transport aicraft flying straight from Cherbourg with his 1 Kompanie. The German flag was officially raised in Jersey in the presence of Oberstleutnant Plocher, the men of von Obernitz, the Gotenhafen detachment and the 1 Kompanie.

After the ceremony, Hauptmann Gussek, the commander of 1 Kompanie was designated Inselkommandant.

Alderney and Sark

Alderney was occupied on 2 July. Unterfeldwebel Schmidt was appointed Inselkommandant. Finally, Sark officially surrendered on 4 July. Obergefreiter Obenhauf became the Inselkommandant.

The first shipborne German troops consisting of two anti-aircraft units, arrived in St Peter Port on the captured freighter SS Holland on 14 July.

On 22 July the security of the Channel Islands officially became the responsibility of the 216 Infanteriedivision. Initially, it was the I Bataillon of the Infanterieregiment 396 which occupied the islands. The commander of that regiment was Oberstleutnant Gene.