Part two of our early fortifications special.   Following a number of questions around the fortification of the Channel Islands we were keen to talk about early fortifications. 


In the show we deal with everything from the start to late 1941! Basically everything pre-Atlantic wall.

We talk a bit about early Luftwaffe activity, Battle of Britain, the repurposing of  Napoleonic fortifications and much more.

A few pictures and links to articles on the link  here.

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Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

Following a number of questions around the fortification of the Channel Islands we were keen to talk about early fortifications.

In the show we deal with everything from the start to late 1941! Basically everything pre-Atlantic wall.

We talk a bit about early Kommandandt's, early fortifications and the obsession with holding the Channel Islands despite there being no strategic value.

A few pictures on the link here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected].  Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on my website Island Fortress  here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

January 1941 

In this episode we deal with:

• Lack of vitamin A causes concern
• Pigeons banned!
• Fortifications  - a brief overview
• Depression and other illnesses 
• Postage issues 
• Red Cross Letters

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If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected].  Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

To see all the pictures and documents we talked about head to this link

You can find out more about the occupation on my website Island Fortress  here.

The books we referred to are:

Guernsey Occupation Diaries, 1940-45 - Author: Douglas Ord (ed. John Nettles)

Guernsey Under German Rule - Ralph Durand 


Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

December 1940.

In this episode we deal with the fate of Symes & Nicolle the two commandos and the civilians that helped them. Find out how they were treated and conditions in  the prison.

You can find out about the prison here.

We also talk about the repercussions of the raid and how the local population feels about the raid.

Also in the show we  look at RAF activity around the islands, a German aircraft crash, and address listeners questions.  If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected].  Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes.

We talked about a guided walk in Sark by Tim's Guided Walks on 25th May.  Details here on how to book.

To see all the pictures and documents we talked about head to this link.

You can find out more about the occupation on my website Island Fortress  here.

The books we referred to are:

Guernsey Occupation Diaries, 1940-45 - Author: Douglas Ord (ed. John Nettles)

The Commando Who Came Home To Spy – William Bell

We also mentioned the Channel Islands Occupation Society.  You can find their website here. 

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

Send us a Text Message.

 

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

November 1940.  There was a lot going on!

We continue to follow what is happening to Symes & Nicolle and those that helped them.  The confiscation of wireless sets and more.

Luftwaffe aircraft downed during the month including one that crashed on Crevichon.

To see all the pictures and documents we talked about head to this link.

You can find out more about the occupation on my website Island Fortress  here.

The books we referred to are:

Guernsey Occupation Diaries, 1940-45 - Author: Douglas Ord (ed. John Nettles)

The Commando Who Came Home To Spy – William Bell

We also mentioned the Channel Islands Occupation Society.  You can find their website here. 

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

It is October 1940.

The two commandos, Nicolle and Symes are still at large  and moving around the island. Much happened in the run up to their surrender, their treatment after they surrender and the consequences following this.

More British forces personnel surrender as part of the amnesty.

Food is already getting short so we talk about an unusual recipe that was used.

You can find some of the items, such as the recipes, notice about treatment of soldiers at large, ration books etc we talked about on the Islands at War Facebook page.

You can find out more about the occupation on my website Island Fortress  here.

The books we referred to are:

I Beg to Report...Policing in Guernsey During the German Occupation – William Bell

Guernsey Occupation Diaries, 1940-45 - Author: Douglas Ord (ed. John Nettles)

The Commando Who Came Home To Spy – William Bell

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

The latest episode is out.

In this episode Keith and Nick talk you through the events of September 1940.

We take a look at the following the civilian perception of what is going on in the war, various commando raids, an escape, RAF operations in the area, a failed rescue attempt, islanders serving in the British forces and much more!

The escape is detailed here.

You can find pictures on my blog post here.

We also mention a new podcast about Bomber Command called "Never Mind The Dam Busters" a podcast about RAF Bomber Command. You can find it here and on all your favourite podcast apps.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording and our producer Sean Johnson.

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

We are back for episode 3!  We now have an appropriate theme tune thanks to our friend Jim Delbridge.   He has kindly allowed us to use his song “5 to 7” from his album ‘The Navigator’.  You can find the video here. 

Keith and Nick talk you through the events of August 1940 the second full month of the islands being occupied by the German forces.  We talk about matters  both civilian and military.

Freedom of worship except for some.
Major Marie Ozanne. - Video and more here. 
Food & Essentials.
The Bailiff’s controversial broadcast on German Radio.
A mission to rescue two commandos.

If you want to see the pictures and videos we talked about go here.

Hope you enjoy it!  Please like and share on your social media.  Also if you could comment on your podcast platform. 

Thanks for listening and reading.

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

July 1940 and the first full month of occupation of the Channel Islands by the Germans.

Join Keith & Nick as they take you through a plethora of orders, the Germans buying everything in sight and eating pats of butter, what it was like in the early days followed by British raids that were Operation Anger, Ambassador and a bit of a disaster!

Go follow us on Facebook Islands at War page or Twitter or follow Nick or Keith on Twitter.

Nick’s Occupation Blog can be found here

You can find more about Anger & Ambassador including photographs here

Operation Anger

Operation Ambassador

Take a look and if you like it subscribe for free.   Email us with questions or observations at [email protected].

The books we referred to are:

The Ord Diaries.

Guernsey Under German Rule Ralph Durand

The German Occupation of the Channel Islands  - Cuickshank

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.

In the June 1940 episode Keith and I talked about a couple of corrections and additional information from the pilot episode.   Links to books and things we talked about are here.

Then we get on with the events of June 1940 about the run up to the German occupation of the Islands. This episode covers the refugees escaping through the islands, the part that Jersey played in Operation Ariel,   bombing raids and much more.

You can find some links to events we talked about here.

The RAF raid we talked about.

Hurricane Girls & the Frenchman

Germans bomb the Channel Islands

Take a look and if you like it subscribe for free.   Email us with questions or observations at [email protected].  Also on Twitter here and Facebook here.  Nick's blog about the occupation is here.

The books we referred to are:

The Ord Diaries.

Guernsey Under German Rule Ralph Durand

The German Occupation of the Channel Islands  - Cuickshank

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.