As an expat Englishman living since 1970 in Hamburg, Germany, I have met some very interesting people in my life, in my early years working here I had many older German colleagues who were veterans of the Wehrmacht, the Luftwaffe and the German Navy, the Marine, during WW2. I have loads of interesting stories they occasionally used to tell in our coffee breaks, but one of the most interesting stories came from an Englishman from Jersey whom I met through a girlfriend of mine. He had been in the island's resistance organisation after the Germans invaded but was arrested and after doing forced labour on the Channel Islands, was eventually sent to Bergen- Belsen concentration camp, which he luckily survived to be liberated by British troops in 1945. The irony of our meeting was that my father was one of the British servicemen who liberated the camp, although the two most probably never met or wouldn't have remembered doing so if they had unless something really specific had occurred. The Jersey Islander's story goes on - while being treated in a British Forces hospital in Germany after his liberation, he met and fell in love with a nurse who cared for him - she was German. They married after he recovered and he lived in Hamburg since then, from 1946 to 1977 when I met him. He said that he had never hated all the Germans, only Nazis and in particular, the SS guards at Bergen- Belsen. This was also the attitude of my father, who was in the RAF since 1943 and was stationed in Hamburg after 1945, where in 1946 he met my German mum and married her in 1947. My parents were happily married for 65 years when my father passed away, aged 87, in 2012. The Jersey Islander, whose name was George (I think, it is a long time ago), may still be alive but I lost contact with the girlfriend and subsequently with him. I just thought the story might interest some of you, a true story of a Jersey Islander's tribulations during the war.
What a shame you do not use a name, that was a lovely story and I just cannot imagine the emotion behind what you tell. Thank you very much and I agree with your opinion that although some nazis could be absolute swines, I heartily agree most Germans were just fighting a war as everyone else was, trying to survive, Prost!!!
The Channel Islands were not *entirely* bypassed by British forces - There were commando raids to grab prisoners for intelligence gathering purposes. I know this because a great uncle was one of those commandos. On one raid they mistakenly landed on Sark, on which there were no Germans. So, having to wait until they were picked up at an arranged time, they went to the pub. 😁
on my old family farm here in northern Norway we have a German coastal battery on our property. Mostly ammuniton bunkers, a hospital, a command tower, 3 gun positions and a couple of defensive positions. Sadly I am yet to find any pictures of how it looked back then. Would be interesting to see how this place that now has 6 permanent residents looked when it had 600 (300 german soldiers, 300 russian pow's) The most interesting part of it is that for the 5 years they occupied this area only 1 russian pow died, and that was from eating raw fish, his grave can be found in the local graveyard, the germans let the russians make him a tombstone from concrete and it still stands there. never found any noteworthy equipment here, my grandad found a german pistol, but annoyingly my dad traded it away. Other than that all we have are som binoculars and powderkegs.
The defences on Jersey used one twelfth of the entire reinforced concrete of the Atlantic Wall. Imagine how much better this could have been used on the coastal defences of France!
As a resident of Jersey, thanks for helping show the world our bunkers. One thing of note is there is some minor mispronunciations of place name's, great video!
Actually the Baliwicks of Guernsey and Jersey - like the Isle of Man - aren't part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. They are possessions of the Crown. They are part of the Common Travel area of Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and not part of the European Union. They actually used to be part of the Duchy of Normandy (William the Conquer, 1066 and all that).
My father was in the Air Force and in 1960 transferred to England. He took the family with him and we made all the tourist sites and saw much of the existing war damage still unrepaired. Actually seeing something like this is much more impressive than videos or stories, of course. Always enjoy your videos, very informative, always.
I visited Jersey a few years ago, the video is a good representation of what is still there, probably will always be there. I loved the creative use of some bunkers along the roads. One was an ice cream shop and another was a fish and chips eatery. The Jersey tunnels was really quite an experience.
“Enemy At The Door” was a British TV series from the late ‘70s that was set in the German occupied Channel Islands. Being a well written and acted series, it stands up well today, and at this point is still viewable on RUclips.
Another topic on a very interesting and perhaps a bit more obscure subject. This is really well done Mark. Thanks for this additional piece of historical information.
Thank you, Dr Felton! Your content is just fantastic - you pick interesting topics and your narration is outstanding! You bring history to life and I can't get enough of it!
Hi, I've added this to my Watch Later list, can't wait to view. It brings to mind my island, Bermuda, which wasn't captured by the Germans, but was used as a base for Allied forces and played a critical, but unsung, role in the festivities. I don't know if you want to do a short bit on our contributions, as rather unexciting as they were. There is a story of how a German sub sent ashore some sailors who caught the train to Hamilton, our main city, sent postcards home, and then made their way back to their boot. It may well be urban legend, but knowing my country, they could have gotten away with it.
Very interesting video and part of the Atlantic Wall no one really talks about. Those bunkers are in excellent condition and that one with multiple floors overlooking the English Channel would make a very cool house with some remodeling. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Jersey is the only Channel-Island i have not visited, but in the very early 70,s we went to Guernsey several times,i could have only been about 6 or 7.Back then,the old bunkers were just left open to explore at your will.They'd not been messed about with at all.One,i think it was on Vason Bay,still had what was left of old rusting beds in it
Great video, I lived in Jersey for 17 years. Brings back a lot of memories. I spent a lot of time looking at all the fortifications of which there are many. P.S St. Ouen's bay is pronounced St. Once bay :) Cheers!!
What a complete waste of resources on the part of the Germans. Just as the British realized the islands were indefensible from anyone occupying the French mainland, The Germans must, or should have, realized, they would just as indefinable for the Germans once the coasts behind them were occupied by the Allies. The sufferings of the British civilians and German occupiers when they were cut off from supplies is one of the little known stories from the war. Still, Churchill made the right choice by doing the same kind of island hopping campaign the US did in the Pacific. There were enough German troops and defenses than any opposed landings would have taken many lives on other sides.
A well known mediaeval tactic was to occupy the enemy's Barbican - the fortified tower overlooking and defending the main entrance to a besieged castle (Jersey). Jersey could have perhaps have been used as a refuelling depot to extend the range of allied aircraft infiltrating mainland Europe. Being so close to France you could argue Churchill withdrew from the Islands consciously to bleed the Nazis of resources. The withdrawal effectively lengthened the French coastline that had to be defended. I prefer to think of Britain's evacuation of the island as a clever tactic not a declaration of the island's low importance for the British militarily. But more a burden for the Reich logistically. 10% of the north Atlantic wall's resources mopped up defending a few troublesome specs off the French coast. Hitler's racism was his weakness, he regarded the English as racial cousins. From comments made by Goering's chief of staff during post war interviews, invading England was personally distasteful and slightly intimidating for the Austrian martinette. I wonder if the Bobby was chauffeuring the German's because they couldn't handle driving on the 'wrong' side of the road (just kidding, I know they loved rubbing people's nose in it)!? Interesting to ponder Gibraltar's status at this time too.
Yes. After D Day Churchill was asked what he thought should be done about the islands, he is said to have replied "let them rot". That's when it became impossible to import food or seed from the continent. So the Germans "rotted" but so did the population. However, as you rightly say, an opposed landing could have cost a heavy price in civilian lives. As it was, the islands became known , apparently, as the biggest German POW camp in existence, with about 30.000 servicemen stuck and cut off from the rest of the world.
Remember going to the war tunnels the one with the red plus on the white wall back in 04 when I was a kid still have some things I bought from there amazing place
Hmmmmmmm Very interesting !!! My son in laws grand parents were in the evacuations from Jersey to England, and the first boat out they could get on was going to Canada and they were on it. I wished years back when they were alive I would have asked them more question but this fills in the details !!!
Well as much as it sucks for the residents who stayed it was genius to pull out and leave it to the Germans. They tied up so many resources on these islands which were then stranded uselessly after D-Day to just wait for the war to end. Think about how useful all those guns, men, equipment, and resources could have been if they'd stayed on the continent instead. Lol Hitler let himself get played so easily, thank God...
You really think it was that simple. D Day was a complete fluke aided and abetted by guts courage and a lot of death, but Hitler knew what he was doing, his staff did not have the balls to waken him when they should have. Most of the guns were reclaimed French artillery pieces which would not have had much ammunition anyway.
I am always appreciative when I see that locals have preserved history for the next generation. So much of that history was paved over or turned in to car parks.
I went to Jersey last year and found it quite interesting to take a tour bus round the island which often stopped at these bunkers - one of the sites we stopped at is in your video, the one with the range finder. It was very odd indeed to sit and look out to sea and think of what the people in these places must have thought. Another great video, Mark, and thank you
Again.. how I do now know but I had Noooo Idea about this. Wow.. 11% and all that equipment and manpower.. oof. Oki doki. Thanks for yet another one of your enlightening and excellent videos my potential friend. Patreon is due soon m8. Have a good one! Thank you.
It blows my mind how much you sound like the original narrator of discovery’s “Great Planes” back in the late 80’s. I always love your content man. Thanks a lot!
I knew that voice was a familiar one. When I first started watching these vids, I asked him if he was the narrator for the British documentary on World-at-War....he voice sounds so "British-proper" the same. Sadly, he had to remind me that particualr series ran originally in the 70's....so it was before his time. But his VOICE....It sounds so much like these other narrators !!!
Being from New Jersey and watching this I can’t help but chuckle when you say jersey because that is exactly what we say I don’t think I’ve ever Heard anyone here call it New Jersey
Mr. Felton theses videos are awsome! Really like the detailed and accurate information. The quality of video/ pictures you use to back up your presentation aswell. Plus your videos are short but sweet.
Thanks for the video. I've visited both Jersey and Guernsey in the last few years (plus Sark). The museums and fortifications are hugely interesting and well worth a trip alone - though both Islands make a fabulous holiday destination even without the ww2 aspect too.
I would love to see a piece on the Gurkhas. Better yet a series, considering their history, military roles, order of battle, the Kukri, and the lessor known Gurkha units around the world. Please, please, please Mark!!!
First one! Yay! Thank you for this amazing look at yet another fascinating niche of WW2 history. I knew it was only a matte of time before you got to the Channel Islands occupation.
What an interesting story Mark. I'm a collector of WWII artifacts and have in my collection a German WWII M-35 full chicken-wire helmet that belonged to a soldier from the 319th infantry division stationed in Jersey. It remained in a small museum on the island before being sold to a local resident. He then sold the helmet to me back in 2010, and remains in my collection today. Needless to say it's one of my top shelf helmets and I'll never part with it.
That was fascinating. Very enjoyable to watch, with the usual excellent, informative narration. If I was a teacher, I would definitely show this to my students. Another brilliant Mark Felton production!
What a coincidence, I am currently on holiday there and I am really intrested in this sort of stuff. I actually visited the place you featured at the beginning just today.
Hey Mark, this was great! Its not too often...even in pictures one can see what the German bunkers were like back then. Very interestin to see how they lived and functioned in them ! thanks!
This is absolutely facilitating. To have so much history so well preserved in such a small area is amazing. If only more around Europe was as well preserved. Great work as always. Thanks Mark
To Mr Mark Felton, I hugely enjoy ALL of your videos, but this one really brought back some memories!! I was stationed in Italy in 1987-93, and I managed to explore several similar sites, such as Hermann Goering line in Sicily..... From an amateur historian to a highly expert one , much kudos to you !!!! You are living my dream.....Keep up the good work and let me know if you have an email site I could hit up.....Thanks once again for the great history in the awesome format!!!!!!!
Got to say best pages by this guy ...... Excellent. Excellent I quit happily watch the same mini documentaries . Keep up the good work. Thank god it's not pro America like most documentaries. Looks like Jersey will be getting a visit very soon.
Another great episode! I read somewhere that the underground hospital wasn't actually very good, as a hospital anyway! Apparently, the damp air and lack of sunlight slowed proper healing. Are you planning a film about the Isle of Wight Needles Batteries and rocket engine test site?
Thanks again mark! There is also a story about the Dutch island Texel(part of Atlantic wall) Fighting there proceeded until after the war 20-may-45 and was called ''Europa's last battlefield'' Almost 400 Germans where killed in there sleep allone!! a real horror story! The island was held by German (+/- 450) soldiers and from the republic of Georgia (800) and at the end of the war the german soldiers where betrayed and most killed in there sleep! German command was very angry and send soldiers to retake the island who was partially taken. At the end about 800 germans, 565 from Georgia and 120 Islanders all died! Unreal this story! BUT treu! Sorry for my English But this is interesting stuff i wish to share.
Excellent videos. My parents went on a cruise in 2016 that went from the US through the British Isles and Channel Islands. While on the Channel Islands they didn’t go to a single WW2 museum or site. The cruise company shuttles them around select wineries and gifts shops instead which is such a shame now that I see what’s there.
A close friend of mine is from St. Ouen. Her little brother playing in the late 1950's got separated from the others as they explored and entered one of the sealed off bunkers. He survived the explosion which claimed his friends. Thanks to the Red Cross the ship Vega supplied the island twice during the winter of 44-45 keeping the populace alive. After liberation day (9 May) 5 years supply of food was discovered, hidden by the German forces. The Germans also brought in over 5000 forced laborers, evidenced by the number of their graves, from all axis captured / occupied countries. Thank you. Narragansett Bay.
Doug Bader For sure it was. Many german soldiers got cabin fever and suffered from starving deseases. Within this Jersey-context it would have been very interesting, if Mr. Felton had mentioned the „Granville raid“ from march, 9th in 1945, when 13 boats of the Kriegsmarine under Kapitänleutnant Carl-Friedrich Mohr leaved Jersey and attacked the harbour of Granville with 600 men for coal and food - and they did this pretty much successfully: US- and british troops were completky taken by surprise... But he will surely give us an detailled report on this Granville-raid later... 😉
Fascinating - brings to mind a worthwhile book I read about the story on Guernsey at that time. I'm sure they suffered in a similar fashion particularly at the end. It was called "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" ... and is well worth the read. Thanks for another great video.
Mark I recently finished 1000 miles to freedom audiobook and I really enjoyed it. I recently started Ghost Riders. I am enveloped in it right now and am already on Track 5. I love the Audiobooks narrated by you - my personal opinion.
Outstanding episode. It's great to see such care taken with the preservation and display of these relics. The Channel Islands were Hitler's Maginot line.
Once again you astound with hidden knowledge of the second world war, of which I've been a student for 15 odd years! I wish I had known of these when I toured Normandy in the summer of 2014!
Btw its pronounced 'Saint Ones' Bay and 'Saint O'bins' Bay. Also the location you zoomed into for La Hougue Bie is actually one of the German command bunkers dressed as a house. (Jersey historian/archaeologist) Love the content, thanks for giving our amazing ww2 history a spotlight
This video is well done. I have not been to Jersey but I have visited the Guernsey Island. There are German fortifications there also. Please consider doing a similar video on Guernsey.
Mark if you ever want a reason (or tax right off) to come to Australia, look up Point Nepean Victoria. It isn’t “restored” with soldiers etc but it’s got a huge disappearing gun. And my memory is probably wrong but it fired the first shot of the war or something. Maybe Australia’s first. But the whole point was preserved as a park. They orig didn’t develop it due to the munitions dumped around it. Surfers didn’t care. They surf righ bext to signs “unexploded ordinance in area” planted on the reef. Interesting spot. Would love your take on it.
As an expat Englishman living since 1970 in Hamburg, Germany, I have met some very interesting people in my life, in my early years working here I had many older German colleagues who were veterans of the Wehrmacht, the Luftwaffe and the German Navy, the Marine, during WW2. I have loads of interesting stories they occasionally used to tell in our coffee breaks, but one of the most interesting stories came from an Englishman from Jersey whom I met through a girlfriend of mine. He had been in the island's resistance organisation after the Germans invaded but was arrested and after doing forced labour on the Channel Islands, was eventually sent to Bergen- Belsen concentration camp, which he luckily survived to be liberated by British troops in 1945. The irony of our meeting was that my father was one of the British servicemen who liberated the camp, although the two most probably never met or wouldn't have remembered doing so if they had unless something really specific had occurred. The Jersey Islander's story goes on - while being treated in a British Forces hospital in Germany after his liberation, he met and fell in love with a nurse who cared for him - she was German. They married after he recovered and he lived in Hamburg since then, from 1946 to 1977 when I met him. He said that he had never hated all the Germans, only Nazis and in particular, the SS guards at Bergen- Belsen. This was also the attitude of my father, who was in the RAF since 1943 and was stationed in Hamburg after 1945, where in 1946 he met my German mum and married her in 1947. My parents were happily married for 65 years when my father passed away, aged 87, in 2012. The Jersey Islander, whose name was George (I think, it is a long time ago), may still be alive but I lost contact with the girlfriend and subsequently with him. I just thought the story might interest some of you, a true story of a Jersey Islander's tribulations during the war.
What a shame you do not use a name, that was a lovely story and I just cannot imagine the emotion behind what you tell.
Thank you very much and I agree with your opinion that although some nazis could be absolute swines, I heartily agree most Germans were just fighting a war as everyone else was, trying to survive, Prost!!!
The Channel Islands were not *entirely* bypassed by British forces - There were commando raids to grab prisoners for intelligence gathering purposes.
I know this because a great uncle was one of those commandos. On one raid they mistakenly landed on Sark, on which there were no Germans. So, having to wait until they were picked up at an arranged time, they went to the pub. 😁
No way you’ve been in Jersey? I live there! Awesome to see my local history being recognised by such a passionate historian, love your content!
me 2
lets get a shovel and dig up some of that buried German stuff..I need some more guns for my collection..
Luckiest German soldiers of the war were the ones who sat it out as occupation troops in Jersey.
Except for when the food ran out
They are very lucky to survive because they almost starved to death when they got cut off from the mainland
@@thelaffingllama food ran out for everyone anyway...
And Norway. Norway was occupied and Hitler vowed to defend it. It wasn't liberated as well as Denmark.
Yeah they starved for many months, it was effectively a siege
on my old family farm here in northern Norway we have a German coastal battery on our property. Mostly ammuniton bunkers, a hospital, a command tower, 3 gun positions and a couple of defensive positions. Sadly I am yet to find any pictures of how it looked back then. Would be interesting to see how this place that now has 6 permanent residents looked when it had 600 (300 german soldiers, 300 russian pow's)
The most interesting part of it is that for the 5 years they occupied this area only 1 russian pow died, and that was from eating raw fish, his grave can be found in the local graveyard, the germans let the russians make him a tombstone from concrete and it still stands there.
never found any noteworthy equipment here, my grandad found a german pistol, but annoyingly my dad traded it away. Other than that all we have are som binoculars and powderkegs.
Where do you live Odin, I think I have been there.
Your story needs to be told...it is interesting.
As an elderly WW2 buff, I have never heard of this. Another great video with new and revealing information.
The defences on Jersey used one twelfth of the entire reinforced concrete of the Atlantic Wall. Imagine how much better this could have been used on the coastal defences of France!
Thats what you get when your dictator is a crack addict...
@@robinderoos1166 ja
If only he gave me those reserve panzer divisions.
You were a good man, Rommel. Too bad you had to be born in Germany rather than an allied country.
But if we keep them far from the coast we can move to hit them when the land ...... ( doesn't stop to think about allied airpower)
Ja Kommendant!
If only von Stauffenberg's bomb hadn't been pushed under the table.
Defeat was still inevitable. Instead of Germany being split, it would all be under Russian control
The observation towers look to have some architectural value, kinda looks weirdly bauhaus.
As a resident of Jersey, thanks for helping show the world our bunkers. One thing of note is there is some minor mispronunciations of place name's, great video!
Actually the Baliwicks of Guernsey and Jersey - like the Isle of Man - aren't part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. They are possessions of the Crown. They are part of the Common Travel area of Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and not part of the European Union. They actually used to be part of the Duchy of Normandy (William the Conquer, 1066 and all that).
and all that, historians say that all the time.
Thanks once again for your time and effort
My father was in the Air Force and in 1960 transferred to England. He took the family with him and we made all the tourist sites and saw much of the existing war damage still unrepaired.
Actually seeing something like this is much more impressive than videos or stories, of course.
Always enjoy your videos, very informative, always.
I visited Jersey a few years ago, the video is a good representation of what is still there, probably will always be there. I loved the creative use of some bunkers along the roads. One was an ice cream shop and another was a fish and chips eatery. The Jersey tunnels was really quite an experience.
“Enemy At The Door” was a British TV series from the late ‘70s that was set in the German occupied Channel Islands.
Being a well written and acted series, it stands up well today, and at this point is still viewable on RUclips.
Another topic on a very interesting and perhaps a bit more obscure subject. This is really well done Mark. Thanks for this additional piece of historical information.
Thank you, Dr Felton! Your content is just fantastic - you pick interesting topics and your narration is outstanding! You bring history to life and I can't get enough of it!
Hi, I've added this to my Watch Later list, can't wait to view. It brings to mind my island, Bermuda, which wasn't captured by the Germans, but was used as a base for Allied forces and played a critical, but unsung, role in the festivities. I don't know if you want to do a short bit on our contributions, as rather unexciting as they were. There is a story of how a German sub sent ashore some sailors who caught the train to Hamilton, our main city, sent postcards home, and then made their way back to their boot. It may well be urban legend, but knowing my country, they could have gotten away with it.
Very interesting video and part of the Atlantic Wall no one really talks about. Those bunkers are in excellent condition and that one with multiple floors overlooking the English Channel would make a very cool house with some remodeling. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Well I will be Damned, Cheers Mark, my Mrs watched this with me, She wants a holiday on Jersey, Hell Yes, beats me being bored in Benidorm anyday
Precisely
Mark: you should do more bunker-exploring! Great content on your channel. 👍👍👍
we need to get here folk :) great video
A great introduction to the Channel Islands story.
Interesting lesser known story of WW2. Great video!
This is terrific! Really well done on a view of this period we would not normally see.
Jersey is the only Channel-Island i have not visited, but in the very early 70,s we went to Guernsey several times,i could have only been about 6 or 7.Back then,the old bunkers were just left open to explore at your will.They'd not been messed about with at all.One,i think it was on Vason Bay,still had what was left of old rusting beds in it
Great video, I lived in Jersey for 17 years. Brings back a lot of memories. I spent a lot of time looking at all the fortifications of which there are many. P.S St. Ouen's bay is pronounced St. Once bay :) Cheers!!
Bum bum bum bum bum , I love the opening music and these videos all done so well you do such a great job please do more on ITALY !!
What a complete waste of resources on the part of the Germans. Just as the British realized the islands were indefensible from anyone occupying the French mainland, The Germans must, or should have, realized, they would just as indefinable for the Germans once the coasts behind them were occupied by the Allies. The sufferings of the British civilians and German occupiers when they were cut off from supplies is one of the little known stories from the war. Still, Churchill made the right choice by doing the same kind of island hopping campaign the US did in the Pacific. There were enough German troops and defenses than any opposed landings would have taken many lives on other sides.
Sar Jim - like Mark said,, it was the only patch of Britain Hitler could posses ... his obsession
A well known mediaeval tactic was to occupy the enemy's Barbican - the fortified tower overlooking and defending the main entrance to a besieged castle (Jersey).
Jersey could have perhaps have been used as a refuelling depot to extend the range of allied aircraft infiltrating mainland Europe.
Being so close to France you could argue Churchill withdrew from the Islands consciously to bleed the Nazis of resources.
The withdrawal effectively lengthened the French coastline that had to be defended.
I prefer to think of Britain's evacuation of the island as a clever tactic not a declaration of the island's low importance for the British militarily. But more a burden for the Reich logistically. 10% of the north Atlantic wall's resources mopped up defending a few troublesome specs off the French coast.
Hitler's racism was his weakness, he regarded the English as racial cousins.
From comments made by Goering's chief of staff during post war interviews, invading England was personally distasteful and slightly intimidating for the Austrian martinette.
I wonder if the Bobby was chauffeuring the German's because they couldn't handle driving on the 'wrong' side of the road (just kidding, I know they loved rubbing people's nose in it)!?
Interesting to ponder Gibraltar's status at this time too.
@@AndyJarman do you get off on calling Hitler a girl?
Yes. After D Day Churchill was asked what he thought should be done about the islands, he is said to have replied "let them rot".
That's when it became impossible to import food or seed from the continent. So the Germans "rotted" but so did the population.
However, as you rightly say, an opposed landing could have cost a heavy price in civilian lives.
As it was, the islands became known , apparently, as the biggest German POW camp in existence, with about 30.000 servicemen stuck and cut off from the rest of the world.
Remember going to the war tunnels the one with the red plus on the white wall back in 04 when I was a kid still have some things I bought from there amazing place
Mark, This is one of your best videos yet! Well done and good job!
I find these kind of fortifications fascinating. I've visited several in the Netherlands, Belgium and France now.
Same here ...i must have missed you .😊
Hmmmmmmm Very interesting !!! My son in laws grand parents were in the evacuations from Jersey to England, and the first boat out they could get on was going to Canada and they were on it. I wished years back when they were alive I would have asked them more question but this fills in the details !!!
Well as much as it sucks for the residents who stayed it was genius to pull out and leave it to the Germans. They tied up so many resources on these islands which were then stranded uselessly after D-Day to just wait for the war to end. Think about how useful all those guns, men, equipment, and resources could have been if they'd stayed on the continent instead. Lol Hitler let himself get played so easily, thank God...
You really think it was that simple.
D Day was a complete fluke aided and abetted by guts courage and a lot of death, but Hitler knew what he was doing, his staff did not have the balls to waken him when they should have.
Most of the guns were reclaimed French artillery pieces which would not have had much ammunition anyway.
visited these bunkers and fortifications last year, absolutely amazing I cant wait to see them again
I am always appreciative when I see that locals have preserved history for the next generation. So much of that history was paved over or turned in to car parks.
I went to Jersey last year and found it quite interesting to take a tour bus round the island which often stopped at these bunkers - one of the sites we stopped at is in your video, the one with the range finder. It was very odd indeed to sit and look out to sea and think of what the people in these places must have thought.
Another great video, Mark, and thank you
Thanks for the video - so many interesting things to see left over from WWII
Again.. how I do now know but I had Noooo Idea about this. Wow..
11% and all that equipment and manpower.. oof.
Oki doki.
Thanks for yet another one of your enlightening and excellent videos my potential friend. Patreon is due soon m8. Have a good one! Thank you.
It blows my mind how much you sound like the original narrator of discovery’s “Great Planes” back in the late 80’s. I always love your content man. Thanks a lot!
I knew that voice was a familiar one. When I first started watching these vids, I asked him if he was the narrator for the British documentary on World-at-War....he voice sounds so "British-proper" the same. Sadly, he had to remind me that particualr series ran originally in the 70's....so it was before his time. But his VOICE....It sounds so much like these other narrators !!!
Being from New Jersey and watching this I can’t help but chuckle when you say jersey because that is exactly what we say I don’t think I’ve ever Heard anyone here call it New Jersey
Amazing video as always!
Mr. Felton theses videos are awsome! Really like the detailed and accurate information. The quality of video/ pictures you use to back up your presentation aswell. Plus your videos are short but sweet.
Looks like something just got added to my bucket list!
Ha ha same here ....
Amazing. This was a strange chapter in WW II history. Thanks again.
hey mark i was wondering if u could cover the last stand of the malay regiment in Singapore
The Commonwealth troops that were defending from the Japanese?
Thanks for the video. I've visited both Jersey and Guernsey in the last few years (plus Sark). The museums and fortifications are hugely interesting and well worth a trip alone - though both Islands make a fabulous holiday destination even without the ww2 aspect too.
Its so weird watching great content that is right to the point and isn’t milking the clock for add revenue. Good man great work!
I would love to see a piece on the Gurkhas. Better yet a series, considering their history, military roles, order of battle, the Kukri, and the lessor known Gurkha units around the world. Please, please, please Mark!!!
What a fascinating story! I’d love to see some of those bunkers! Thanks once again For the great video Mark!
So interesting, thank-you Mark for sharing your explorations!
First one! Yay!
Thank you for this amazing look at yet another fascinating niche of WW2 history. I knew it was only a matte of time before you got to the Channel Islands occupation.
What an interesting story Mark. I'm a collector of WWII artifacts and have in my collection a German WWII M-35 full chicken-wire helmet that belonged to a soldier from the 319th infantry division stationed in Jersey. It remained in a small museum on the island before being sold to a local resident. He then sold the helmet to me back in 2010, and remains in my collection today. Needless to say it's one of my top shelf helmets and I'll never part with it.
Also mark your videos are so clear and well constructed, easy to follow and always loaded with amazing stories and facts, keep up the work mate!
Thank you for the nicely narrated tour!
That was fascinating. Very enjoyable to watch, with the usual excellent, informative narration. If I was a teacher, I would definitely show this to my students. Another brilliant Mark Felton production!
You even make "fumbling around" sound sophisticated. Really enjoy your videos. Have several marked for visots one day.
I remember reading about this, but seeing those fortifications and the information in your video helps bring it to life. Great video Mark !
What a coincidence, I am currently on holiday there and I am really intrested in this sort of stuff. I actually visited the place you featured at the beginning just today.
Hey Mark, this was great! Its not too often...even in pictures one can see what the German bunkers were like back then. Very interestin to see how they lived and functioned in them ! thanks!
This is absolutely facilitating. To have so much history so well preserved in such a small area is amazing. If only more around Europe was as well preserved. Great work as always. Thanks Mark
i wanne break in those sealed bunkers :D
Absolutely! One can only image that they are being kept sealed as a time capsule.
Yes I would like to see what is inside.
@@painmagnet1 yeah right lol, the Brits will never let those bunkers be opened as long as the queen is in Buckingham
Tavish///// LOT'S OF GOODIES IN THOSE!!!!!! CRACK THEM OPEN!!!!!
I need a helmet and a gun! And whatever i can carry!
Wow, nice stuff. Great video. Although the guns and artillery are awesome, those German motorcycles are cool as hell!
☀️😎☀️
I have often wondered about those islands and now I know what's what. Thanks for the excellent coverage.
Slept a few nights at the observation tower at Corbiere - fantastic
I keep on wanting to say:- "Best one yet!" over and over after each video. I don't know how you do it, but keep it up, please.
Having visited the war tunnels i find this video of particular interest, love Jersey, such a pretty island.
To Mr Mark Felton,
I hugely enjoy ALL of your videos, but this one really brought back some memories!! I was stationed in Italy in 1987-93, and I managed to explore several similar sites, such as Hermann Goering line in Sicily..... From an amateur historian to a highly expert one , much kudos to you !!!! You are living my dream.....Keep up the good work and let me know if you have an email site I could hit up.....Thanks once again for the great history in the awesome format!!!!!!!
Fascinating! I love how I always find out something new here. Never heard of this before.
Got to say best pages by this guy ...... Excellent. Excellent
I quit happily watch the same mini documentaries .
Keep up the good work. Thank god it's not pro America like most documentaries. Looks like Jersey will be getting a visit very soon.
Another great episode! I read somewhere that the underground hospital wasn't actually very good, as a hospital anyway! Apparently, the damp air and lack of sunlight slowed proper healing.
Are you planning a film about the Isle of Wight Needles Batteries and rocket engine test site?
Thanks again mark! There is also a story about the Dutch island Texel(part of Atlantic wall) Fighting there proceeded until after the war 20-may-45 and was called ''Europa's last battlefield'' Almost 400 Germans where killed in there sleep allone!! a real horror story! The island was held by German (+/- 450) soldiers and from the republic of Georgia (800) and at the end of the war the german soldiers where betrayed and most killed in there sleep! German command was very angry and send soldiers to retake the island who was partially taken. At the end about 800 germans, 565 from Georgia and 120 Islanders all died! Unreal this story! BUT treu!
Sorry for my English But this is interesting stuff i wish to share.
great video and much information I never heared of. Thanks
Excellent videos. My parents went on a cruise in 2016 that went from the US through the British Isles and Channel Islands. While on the Channel Islands they didn’t go to a single WW2 museum or site. The cruise company shuttles them around select wineries and gifts shops instead which is such a shame now that I see what’s there.
Great video as always Mark, a truly great youtube channel this one
Ty for the great vid mark! High quality as always!
Wow, Another great clip indeed ! Love the channel and once again , thanks for sharing another peice of history .
Great video Mark! My Brother and his family live over in Guernsey. Each time I visit, we go exploring the bunkers with his kids.
Have you been to the Mirus battery?
A close friend of mine is from St. Ouen. Her little brother playing in the late 1950's got separated from the others as they explored and entered one of the sealed off bunkers. He survived the explosion which claimed his friends. Thanks to the Red Cross the ship Vega supplied the island twice during the winter of 44-45 keeping the populace alive. After liberation day (9 May) 5 years supply of food was discovered, hidden by the German forces. The Germans also brought in over 5000 forced laborers, evidenced by the number of their graves, from all axis captured / occupied countries. Thank you. Narragansett Bay.
The suffering on Jersey must have been immense from D-Day, '44 until May '45. God bless them.
Doug Bader
For sure it was. Many german soldiers got cabin fever and suffered from starving deseases.
Within this Jersey-context it would have been very interesting, if Mr. Felton had mentioned the „Granville raid“ from march, 9th in 1945, when 13 boats of the Kriegsmarine under Kapitänleutnant Carl-Friedrich Mohr leaved Jersey and attacked the harbour of Granville with 600 men for coal and food - and they did this pretty much successfully: US- and british troops were completky taken by surprise...
But he will surely give us an detailled report on this Granville-raid later... 😉
As my wife says Mark again, amazes us, with his knowledge, of this topic, which isn't widely known !
This is a very humbling episode....less we forget.
That was really cool, thank you so much Mark!
Fascinating - brings to mind a worthwhile book I read about the story on Guernsey at that time. I'm sure they suffered in a similar fashion particularly at the end. It was called "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" ... and is well worth the read. Thanks for another great video.
My fiance is from Guernsey. Visiting Nazi bunkers has become a Christmas Day tradition when we are visiting over the holidays.
good video remember visiting these places a couple of years ago, the field hospital is well worth a visit!
Thank you for these videos!
Mark I recently finished 1000 miles to freedom audiobook and I really enjoyed it. I recently started Ghost Riders. I am enveloped in it right now and am already on Track 5. I love the Audiobooks narrated by you - my personal opinion.
Brilliant! Very pleased to hear this
Outstanding episode. It's great to see such care taken with the preservation and display of these relics. The Channel Islands were Hitler's Maginot line.
Mark Felton went to this island to record footage for his Video while still keeping up the 1 Video per day cicle. Incredible!
Thank you for this video Mark Felton.
That intro is addicting.
Once again you astound with hidden knowledge of the second world war, of which I've been a student for 15 odd years! I wish I had known of these when I toured Normandy in the summer of 2014!
Btw its pronounced 'Saint Ones' Bay and 'Saint O'bins' Bay. Also the location you zoomed into for La Hougue Bie is actually one of the German command bunkers dressed as a house. (Jersey historian/archaeologist) Love the content, thanks for giving our amazing ww2 history a spotlight
Again hugely informative. Looking forward to a possible video covering the German fortification on Guernsey and it’s Military Museum
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
This video is well done. I have not been to Jersey but I have visited the Guernsey Island. There are German fortifications there also. Please consider doing a similar video on Guernsey.
Mark if you ever want a reason (or tax right off) to come to Australia, look up Point Nepean Victoria. It isn’t “restored” with soldiers etc but it’s got a huge disappearing gun. And my memory is probably wrong but it fired the first shot of the war or something. Maybe Australia’s first. But the whole point was preserved as a park. They orig didn’t develop it due to the munitions dumped around it. Surfers didn’t care. They surf righ bext to signs “unexploded ordinance in area” planted on the reef. Interesting spot. Would love your take on it.
Very good :) That big tower is quite elegant as far as bunkers go.
I love your videos, keep up the amazing work