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Channel Islands Invaded By Simon Hamon: Analysis

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By the summer of 1940, the British army had suffered in the Battle of France, retreating back to Britain to defend the mainland from German troops. The Germans pressed forward as Hitler desired any piece of British soil to use as propaganda to show the might of the German forces. The Germans invaded the demilitarized Channel Islands on June 28, 1940 leading to a new reality of life for the islanders.
Multiple perspectives exist on the British neglect of the Channel Islands. Channel Islands Invaded by Simon Hamon shows how German brutality encompassed the lives of the islanders after the British failed to defend them. Alternatively, The British Channel Islands under German Occupation, 1940-1945 by Paul Sanders reveals how Britain was forced …show more content…

As the Germans advanced toward Britain, the British government demilitarized the islands, resulting in a quick invasion and 45 islander deaths. This is significant as Britain was directly responsible for the invasion of the islands, an event that could have been avoided if the islands were defended. Lord Mountbatten planned a series of attacks to regain the islands, yet these attacks yielded civilian death in the crossfire. Britain neglected the islanders, failing to defend them from invasion only to harm them further as they tried to fix their mistake and fight the invaders. With Germany retaining control following Britain’s defensive failures, the life of islanders reached abject conditions. Food was rationed despite surpluses and fishermen were forced to sell their catch to Germans. Islanders experienced restricted lifestyles due to occupation, leading to short and long term effects on the wellness of the islanders. Compared to mainland children, island youth weighed 28.2-33.1 percent less, while babies born during occupation had a greater risk for cardiovascular diseases. The aesthetic of the islands was also ruined by the occupation. The islands remain littered with prisons and the Alderney concentration camp. In the end, Britain’s neglect became apparent as its failure to defend the islands led to mass suffering of the islanders at the hands of the German …show more content…

Unfortunately for Britain, Hitler had desired a piece of British soil to control as propaganda, resulting in Hitler fighting for the islands more intensely than expected. This is significant since Britain was not prepared for the outright invasion of the islands showing that they did not blatantly neglect the islanders. After the Germans took over, the British could not launch large scale invasions to reclaim the islands as they would injure many citizens, showing that Britain had the best interest of its citizens in mind. Research also revealed that islanders experienced reasonable living conditions rather than those reported. Citizens were not as restricted as previously thought since they could stage small rebellions against their occupiers, i.e. the owning of illegal radios. Some of the permanent effects on the islanders were not as serious as initially thought, some providing health benefits. Rations during the occupation actually generated healthy lifestyles, leading to weight loss and a decrease in various diseases. The islands’ government was permitted to rule during occupation, preventing the destruction of infrastructure and economy post-occupation. Even decades after the occupation, the Germans left a cohesive attitude in the minds of the islanders as they celebrate Liberation Day on May 9th reliving the pride they felt of

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