Thank you for sharing this review of the little know (in the UK) Island. My ancestors are from Helgoland and it’s my lifelong dream to one day visit and experience a little of what they called home. I corresponded with a wonderful gentleman on the island a few years ago via the museum and family history section and he sent me a complete family tree back to 1668. Sadly I can never thank him in person as he passed away a couple of years ago but I will make it there one day. 👍
Heisenberg went to the island looking for a reprieve from a bad case of hay fever. He formulated the mathematical basis of Quantum Mechanics while there using a branch of maths he didn't really understand. He was 23 years old at the time (1925). (He did not develop the uncertainty principle until 2 years later). The Germans called him the wonder kid.
To me, Helgoland is a daytrip. The family version: drive to Wilhelmshaven, get on the boat, pray that nobody gets seasick, hop of the boat, take the elevator to the top of the island, take a walk around, descend through the village, purchase your duty free items (tobacco, liquor, perfume, chocolate, butter), buy ice cream for the kids, hop on the boat, hop off the boat and drive home. The adult version: hop off the boat, purchase the duty free stuff (minus the butter, it's too much to carry), enter the next bar, get drunk af, hop on the boat, try to sleep on the boat (to avoid seasickness), hoping the (sober) designated driver finds the car to get home.
The Anglo-German Hinterlnd Settlement of 1890 delineated spheres of influence in East Africa. Britain gained Zanzibar, as Simon mentioned and also had its territorial claims in Uganda recognise by Germany. Germany retained Tanganjika. Heligoland was an irrelevant island that Queen Victoria described as a 'Bathtub in the North Sea and apparently a mere addendum to the treaty. What the British didn't know though, was that German chancellor, Bismarck had told his negotiators that they could give away all German possessions in East Africa in order for Germany to gain Heligoland. At that time he was planning to build the Kiel Canal to release the German fleet from the Baltic and he knew that building it was pointless whilst Britain could place long range guns on Heligoland to sink any hostile ships emerging from the Kiel Canal.
I am interested in traveling to Heligoland to analyze commercial possibilities. I require information on installed wikkelhouse lodgings and their acceptance as a construction system for the tourism sector.
And dont fordet my favorite sightseeing the "long Ann" (die l"ange Anna")^^❤ I thing she is same of the other side of the sea the scotish "Oldenburg man of store" or how ever Asterix schottischer hintersten calls, its my favorite sideseeing place/rock too❤. He & the long ann ❤❤.^^
I find the attempt to destroy Heligoland in 1947, totally bizarre. In 1947 Germany was a broken and occupied nation so didn't pose any threat of re militarisation, but wth an increasingly hostile USSR, the Island would have been a key strategic port for the allies to hold.
Heligoland was already first destroyed during WWII - it was utterly devastated by UK bombing. All the old historical buildings as well as the spa hotels (it had been a massive tourism destination for quite some time) from the prewar era were destroyed. Due to its strategic location in the German Bight, the local authorities under the Nazi dictatorship further redeveloped the island into a naval fortress due to obvious strategic reasons and hollowed out the rocks like a Swiss cheese with bunkers. After the island was completely bombed into oblivion (most civilian residents survived due to the defence programs), they were evacuated/relocated to the nearby German mainland coast. And when the UK tried to blow up the island after WWII, it had been abandoned.
PopualresVox Germany was pretty much smashed up after WW1 but that didn't stop Germany rising again as a military power against us and it had been fortified against us in WW2 so against that background, why do you find in bizarre we blew up much of the island? I find it more bizarre that we did insist of sovereignty of Heligoland being returned to us as that would have ensured it could never be used as a threat to us.
@@dacorum8053 WW2 Germany was funded by banks and large corporations who saw merit in installing an anti Communist regime and invading the USSR to destroy the threat of Marxism, which back then was tearing Europe apart (Spain etc) After Germany's defeat, that anti revolutionary and buffer against Soviet influence was supplanted by the US when the Cold War began. The state of West Germany was never going to be a potential threat. So yes the destruction of the island was bizarre. As for the UK retaining it, that wasn't going to be an option in the surrender of Britain's global interests around the world to the US. So we essentially lost the empire because of WW2 and remained an indebted nation for decades afterwards. Taking islands in the Baltic Sea would not have been possible in the post war political and economic world.
You may consider some truth: Gulfstream --> Fair Isle Current --> Southern Coastal Current --> Southern North Sea Current ... so Helgoland is "supplied" by the Gulfstream.
While we did hand Heligoland over to Germany in 1890, after the War, from 1946 to 1952, Heligoland did come back once again under British administration, as a War prize, until it was finally handed back to Germany.
This story shows the changes in the british views on Germany from 1945 to 1952. After the war was over the British had all reasons to have bitter grudges on the Germans. Two worldwars had ruined the british Empire, horrible Nazi-crimes has made the Germans the most hated people of the world. The common view was that everything must be done that Germany never will be able to start a war again. Therefore the allied had agreed on systematic dismantling of german industry and destruction of bunkers and fortresses. And Helgoland was a fortress with a system of underground tunnels. To destroy such a tunnel system it is the usual way to blow it all up. But the island survived because it’s laying on a layer of springy limestone. The change in mind for the british came when they were confronted with the difficult task to carry for the millions of germans in the british zones. Cities like Hamburg, where the british had their headquarter, were completely destroyed. Bridges and railroad system destroyed. Locomotives, trucks, cranes and crawlers send to russia as reparation. From railroad traces with 2 traces one trace was dismantled, it lasted 3 days to travel with railroad from Hamburg to Munich. Most german men in prisonship, deseases spreading. No Food available, no coal for heating. The harsh winters 45/46 and 46/47 killed many germans. Suddenly the british were forced to supply North germany with everything. An enormous burden for the British as the UK was struggling itself. So they and the other Allied came to the conclusion that they had no choice but help Germany to recover. This came together with the plan to re-educate the germans to democratics. There would have been no creditably to the Allied plans if the germans would have been left in misery. The narrow cooperation of british officers and german civilians created friendship and the soldiers discovered the „Fräulein-wonder“. Than the relationship to Russia changed. The cold war began. And in 1952 the Angloamericans were thinking of re-arming westgermany as they were bored to let stay most of their armed forces in Germany confronted by a huge Red Army in East Germany. They wanted to send their boys home. Ironically most germans didn’t want a new german army. The situation has changed totally as west- and east-germany had developed into systems with rivalic ideology. The iron curtain begun to divide Europe and the geographical power situation was totally different. And the Angloamericans won the trust of most germans. The decision to let the german population allow to go back to their home island was a political symbol. A symbol of friendship and a gift by the British to the new democracic german government.
1947 the island.....was destroyed. So very happy it thrives! But that was one Hell of an explosion! Largest ever! Having a little EOD training...it’s a tough nut to crack! But....7 miles....with tons of ordnance and tons of ammonia Nitrate!
The treaty whereby we swapped Heligoland for Zanzibar also settled the boundaries of the other German colonies in Africa, like Tanganyika. Germany wanted Heligoland, which HAD never been a German possession for naval strategic reasons. The treaty protected the rights of those living on Heligoland. The islanders could, for example, opt for British citizenship if they wished and all born on the island before the treaty was signed were exempt from German military service. Given the strategic importance of Heligoland to Germany, I find it odd that we did not insist that the treaty of Versailles did not return the islands to Great Britain in 1919 or that we did not insist on the return of the island to GB after 1945. The islands had after all hardly ever been German in their history and had been fortified against us in both world wars and keeping possession of them would have been the best way of ensuring they could never be used against us again.
@ajp8941 Of course, who do you think you are? Your Empire has vanished and those crazy imperial measurements with it. Look what Brexit has Done to you isle-apes
Thank you for sharing this review of the little know (in the UK) Island. My ancestors are from Helgoland and it’s my lifelong dream to one day visit and experience a little of what they called home. I corresponded with a wonderful gentleman on the island a few years ago via the museum and family history section and he sent me a complete family tree back to 1668. Sadly I can never thank him in person as he passed away a couple of years ago but I will make it there one day. 👍
I’m German and currently on Helgoland and I’d say it’s not expensive. Mostly you get top quality food out of your expenses.
Unsinkable aircraft carrier for centuries, but now thank God a peaceful and beautiful island 🙏😍
Funny Point when you fly from CPH (Copenhagen) to one of the London Airports in good weather you often pass by it and get a good view.
The best way to travel there is hopping drunkenly on a ferry at the St. Pauli docks, after spending a barely remembered night on the Reeperbahn ^^
Heisenberg went to the island looking for a reprieve from a bad case of hay fever. He formulated the mathematical basis of Quantum Mechanics while there using a branch of maths he didn't really understand. He was 23 years old at the time (1925). (He did not develop the uncertainty principle until 2 years later). The Germans called him the wonder kid.
Once had got an opportunity to visit and stay an over night in this most paradise Helgoland.
Simon Calder. Brilliant .
My great great grandfather was born on Heligoland when it belonged to Denmark before migrating to Australia in 1896.
To me, Helgoland is a daytrip. The family version: drive to Wilhelmshaven, get on the boat, pray that nobody gets seasick, hop of the boat, take the elevator to the top of the island, take a walk around, descend through the village, purchase your duty free items (tobacco, liquor, perfume, chocolate, butter), buy ice cream for the kids, hop on the boat, hop off the boat and drive home.
The adult version: hop off the boat, purchase the duty free stuff (minus the butter, it's too much to carry), enter the next bar, get drunk af, hop on the boat, try to sleep on the boat (to avoid seasickness), hoping the (sober) designated driver finds the car to get home.
Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the lyrics for the german anthem in 1841 while visiting Helgoland. At this time Helgoland was british.
The Anglo-German Hinterlnd Settlement of 1890 delineated spheres of influence in East Africa. Britain gained Zanzibar, as Simon mentioned and also had its territorial claims in Uganda recognise by Germany. Germany retained Tanganjika. Heligoland was an irrelevant island that Queen Victoria described as a 'Bathtub in the North Sea and apparently a mere addendum to the treaty.
What the British didn't know though, was that German chancellor, Bismarck had told his negotiators that they could give away all German possessions in East Africa in order for Germany to gain Heligoland. At that time he was planning to build the Kiel Canal to release the German fleet from the Baltic and he knew that building it was pointless whilst Britain could place long range guns on Heligoland to sink any hostile ships emerging from the Kiel Canal.
Thank you good video and good history.
I am interested in traveling to Heligoland to analyze commercial possibilities.
I require information on installed wikkelhouse lodgings and their acceptance as a construction system for the tourism sector.
very nice video! and highly interesting!
My German family used make Butter Fahrt to Helgoland ,at least once a year!
Der Klassiker. 😁
Beautiful place! 👏
Very nice...thank you
And dont fordet my favorite sightseeing the "long Ann" (die l"ange Anna")^^❤
I thing she is same of the other side of the sea the scotish "Oldenburg man of store" or how ever Asterix schottischer hintersten calls, its my favorite sideseeing place/rock too❤. He & the long ann ❤❤.^^
"Sculpted by time and, sometimes, RAF Bomber Command" 😂
I find the attempt to destroy Heligoland in 1947, totally bizarre. In 1947 Germany was a broken and occupied nation so didn't pose any threat of re militarisation, but wth an increasingly hostile USSR, the Island would have been a key strategic port for the allies to hold.
Heligoland was already first destroyed during WWII - it was utterly devastated by UK bombing. All the old historical buildings as well as the spa hotels (it had been a massive tourism destination for quite some time) from the prewar era were destroyed.
Due to its strategic location in the German Bight, the local authorities under the Nazi dictatorship further redeveloped the island into a naval fortress due to obvious strategic reasons and hollowed out the rocks like a Swiss cheese with bunkers.
After the island was completely bombed into oblivion (most civilian residents survived due to the defence programs), they were evacuated/relocated to the nearby German mainland coast.
And when the UK tried to blow up the island after WWII, it had been abandoned.
PopualresVox Germany was pretty much smashed up after WW1 but that didn't stop Germany rising again as a military power against us and it had been fortified against us in WW2 so against that background, why do you find in bizarre we blew up much of the island? I find it more bizarre that we did insist of sovereignty of Heligoland being returned to us as that would have ensured it could never be used as a threat to us.
@@dacorum8053 WW2 Germany was funded by banks and large corporations who saw merit in installing an anti Communist regime and invading the USSR to destroy the threat of Marxism, which back then was tearing Europe apart (Spain etc) After Germany's defeat, that anti revolutionary and buffer against Soviet influence was supplanted by the US when the Cold War began. The state of West Germany was never going to be a potential threat. So yes the destruction of the island was bizarre. As for the UK retaining it, that wasn't going to be an option in the surrender of Britain's global interests around the world to the US. So we essentially lost the empire because of WW2 and remained an indebted nation for decades afterwards. Taking islands in the Baltic Sea would not have been possible in the post war political and economic world.
@@dacorum8053 The deletion of my reply, is interesting but not surprising given the channel host.
@ Try repeating your reply
Helgoland is not in the Gulf Stream, which passes northwest of Scotland to Norway.
You may consider some truth: Gulfstream --> Fair Isle Current --> Southern Coastal Current --> Southern North Sea Current ... so Helgoland is "supplied" by the Gulfstream.
While we did hand Heligoland over to Germany in 1890, after the War, from 1946 to 1952, Heligoland did come back once again under British administration, as a War prize, until it was finally handed back to Germany.
This story shows the changes in the british views on Germany from 1945 to 1952.
After the war was over the British had all reasons to have bitter grudges on the Germans. Two worldwars had ruined the british Empire, horrible Nazi-crimes has made the Germans the most hated people of the world.
The common view was that everything must be done that Germany never will be able to start a war again.
Therefore the allied had agreed on systematic dismantling of german industry and destruction of bunkers and fortresses.
And Helgoland was a fortress with a system of underground tunnels.
To destroy such a tunnel system it is the usual way to blow it all up.
But the island survived because it’s laying on a layer of springy limestone.
The change in mind for the british came when they were confronted with the difficult task to carry for the millions of germans in the british zones.
Cities like Hamburg, where the british had their headquarter, were completely destroyed. Bridges and railroad system destroyed. Locomotives, trucks, cranes and crawlers send to russia as reparation.
From railroad traces with 2 traces one trace was dismantled, it lasted 3 days to travel with railroad from Hamburg to Munich.
Most german men in prisonship, deseases spreading.
No Food available, no coal for heating. The harsh winters 45/46 and 46/47 killed many germans.
Suddenly the british were forced to supply North germany with everything.
An enormous burden for the British as the UK was struggling itself.
So they and the other Allied came to the conclusion that they had no choice but help Germany to recover.
This came together with the plan to re-educate the germans to democratics.
There would have been no creditably to the Allied plans if the germans would have been left in misery.
The narrow cooperation of british officers and german civilians created friendship and the soldiers discovered the „Fräulein-wonder“.
Than the relationship to Russia changed. The cold war began.
And in 1952 the Angloamericans were thinking of re-arming westgermany as they were bored to let stay most of their armed forces in Germany confronted by a huge Red Army in East Germany.
They wanted to send their boys home.
Ironically most germans didn’t want a new german army.
The situation has changed totally as west- and east-germany had developed into systems with rivalic ideology. The iron curtain begun to divide Europe and the geographical power situation was totally different.
And the Angloamericans won the trust of most germans.
The decision to let the german population allow to
go back to their home island was a political symbol.
A symbol of friendship and a gift by the British to the new democracic german government.
The islands name is HELGOLAND, not Legoland.
It's my lifetime dream to visit the Darkest Shore island.
You forgot the seals
If you,ve seen one expensive island you,ve seen them all.🤣🤣🤣
It's Helgoland
Great place for a U boat base. Oh.....wait!
1947 the island.....was destroyed. So very happy it thrives! But that was one Hell of an explosion! Largest ever! Having a little EOD training...it’s a tough nut to crack! But....7 miles....with tons of ordnance and tons of ammonia Nitrate!
Hochsee❌ Hoxe ✅
It‘s written HELGOLAND and not „Heligoland“ my dear. 🤫
I’ve been there🇺🇸
It is "Helgoland", not "Helgioland".
Itt is not Helgioland nor Heligoland, it is H e l g o l a n d.😂
Isn't it spelt Helgoland?
Only in German. But as you might be aware from something like "Deutschland", different langauges have slightly different names for things.
HeLGoland . No „i“
Der Fuselfelsen...
Danish land stolen still has longer danish history
Great video!
Dude, it's called "Helgoland" not "Heligoland". Sounds funny though 😂
"Heligoland" is the english name. Didn't know that either, but learned it from a one-click-web-research. de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heligoland
0:47 "Heligoland" smh 🤦♂
What’s the matter with you?! Were you really ‘shaking your head’?
@@heli-crewhgs5285 Why is it Heligoland in English? It's Helgoland in German.
@@Osmone_Everony Its original name was apparently "Heligoland", which sounds weird to me as well but 🤷♂..
@@Osmone_Everony Well, why is it Germany, Munich, or Cologne in English? It's Deutschland, München, or Köln in German.
@@uweshep4578 Because native English speakers struggle with the German Umlaute ä, ö, ü, but that doesn't count towards Helgoland.
Why in this video do you keep referring it to heligoland , when clearly it has been Helgoland since before your birth
In English it's known as Heligoland, so as he's speaking English he's correct.
The treaty whereby we swapped Heligoland for Zanzibar also settled the boundaries of the other German colonies in Africa, like Tanganyika. Germany wanted Heligoland, which HAD never been a German possession for naval strategic reasons. The treaty protected the rights of those living on Heligoland. The islanders could, for example, opt for British citizenship if they wished and all born on the island before the treaty was signed were exempt from German military service.
Given the strategic importance of Heligoland to Germany, I find it odd that we did not insist that the treaty of Versailles did not return the islands to Great Britain in 1919 or that we did not insist on the return of the island to GB after 1945. The islands had after all hardly ever been German in their history and had been fortified against us in both world wars and keeping possession of them would have been the best way of ensuring they could never be used against us again.
Please, you Anglo-Saxon cultural imperialists: It's "Helgoland" without "i"
Next you’ll want us to call Cologne ‘Koln’….
@ajp8941 Of course, who do you think you are? Your Empire has vanished and those crazy imperial measurements with it. Look what Brexit has Done to you isle-apes