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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Britain's ‘Nazi Islands' haunted by scandal of ‘Jerrybags' who bedded Hitler's henchmen & saw ‘traitor' babies shunned
Loading the THEY were witnesses to Nazi rule on British soil - and they had to choose whether to collaborate, resist, or walk the line between them. In June 1940 Nazi Germany took control of the Channel Islands in an occupation that would last 1,774 days. Advertisement 20 Nazi Germany took control of the Channel Islands in an occupation that would last 1,774 days Credit: getty 20 Hitler insisted that the Channel Islands be turned into an impregnable fortress Credit: getty 20 Guernsey local Dolly Edwards fell for German signaller Willi Joanknecht during the occupation Credit: Collect As the Other islanders had their homes commandeered to house German officers, and informers and young women who chose to strike up relationships with the occupying soldiers were ostracised by their friends and neighbours. Now a new Channel 4 documentary has used diaries and memoirs from the wartime occupation to bring to life the stories of those who lived under Nazi rule - including some heroes of the resistance. Historian Dr Louise Willmot says: 'Some people did collaborate, and some people did resist. I'm very glad I never had to make that choice. Advertisement 'There was also Hitler's own obsession with the Channel Islands, for him it was a propaganda prize.' On 15 June 1940, Churchill ordered the withdrawal of all military troops from the Channel Islands, leaving 94,000 islanders behind. Residents were given the choice to evacuate - but 69,000 chose to stay in their homes on the islands, undefended by the British military. Advertisement Most read in The Sun "Three or four people put up their hands. Then he asked those who could not speak German to put up their hands. "Hundreds did - and immediately a photograph was taken and was published in a German paper as the Jersey people 'heiling' Hitler.' This is one of the safest Channel Islands 20 Historian Dr Louise Willmot (left) and Professor Gilly Carr (right) discuss the diary entries of those who lived under Nazi rule in a new Channel 4 documentary Credit: Channel 4 / Paul Groom 20 Dolly and Willi's was the UK's first Anglo-German wedding after the war, in 1947 Credit: Collect Advertisement Historian Dr Willmot explains: 'Hitler insisted that the Channel Islands be turned into an impregnable fortress and not taken back. "He wanted to turn St Peter Port into some kind of U-boat base, the rest of the islands he wanted to use as a holiday resort. It is Hitler's obsession that it will become permanently part of German territory." But he wasn't counting on the bravery of some of the islanders - including local journalist Frank Falla, who launched an underground newspaper to debunk the German propaganda, and artist and anti-fascist Claude Cahun, who risked her life to try to encourage mutiny amongst the German troops. Claude lived with her 'step-sister' Suzanne Malherbe, who changed her name to Marcel Moore. But the pair were in fact lovers. Advertisement Hitler insisted that the Channel Islands be turned into an impregnable fortress and not taken back Historian Dr Willmot Claude had a Jewish father and in 1937 the had pair escaped tensions in pre-war Paris and bought a house in Jersey. When the Germans arrived, they believed it was their duty to make a stand. They scribbled anti-Nazi slogans on cigarette packets, strewn where Germans would find them. Then in 1942 they began distributing leaflets, typed in German, under the pseudonym 'The Nameless Soldier' – seemingly a rebel Nazi stirring dissent. Advertisement The leaflets were rolled up like 'paper bullets' and left inside shops and cafes, pushed through the windows of army vehicles, slipped into the pockets of soldiers' uniforms and stuffed into postboxes. These paper bullets were small, but the impact was significant. In Claude's diaries she wrote: 'I write the news bulletins in English, manifestos and slogans in French. I want to give the Germans the illusion that there are several typewriters. 20 Winifred Harvey was a 51-year-old middle class Guernsey housewife who wrote in her diaries at the time of the Nazi's rule Advertisement 20 Islander Winifred Harvey is played by Amanda Root in Britain Under the Nazis: The Forgotten Occupation Credit: Channel 4 / Paul Groom 20 Artist and anti-fascist Claude Cahun risked her life to try to encourage mutiny amongst the German troops "I make every effort to vary the strikes and format to make it look like several typists. My imaginary creation becomes an organised group and not just a solitary writer." As Cahun and Moore grew bolder, their messages instructed troops not to fight, and called Hitler a vampire, with slogans like: "Idiot that you may die, so the Fuhrer may live a little longer!" Advertisement Claude wrote: 'I have to do whatever I can - by speaking or writing. When I try to induce German soldiers to lay down their arms, I'm true to my principles. "I am against war and against repression by our enemies. Perhaps Jersey is almost the only place where that luxury can be indulged.' They smuggled leaflets into labour camps to boost morale and helped escaped Historian Dr Louise Willmot says they knew they were risking their lives to do so: "By choosing to do this work, they were saying, 'I am prepared to die in order to do this work, which is so important.' Advertisement 'And it worked for a long time. The Germans did think that there must be a number of people involved and some of them must be German soldiers. "They were able to do it for almost three years before they were caught.' 'Jerrybags' scandal 20 Local Methodist Minister Douglas Ord wrote about how 'uniform fascinates a type of female' 20 Andrew Havill plays the role of Reverend Douglas Ord in the Channel 4 production Credit: Channel 4 / Paul Groom Advertisement 20 German officer Hans Max von Aufsess said 'English women are straightforward, uncomplicated and easy when it comes to love' 20 Wolf Danny Homann plays Baron Hans Max Von Aufsess Credit: Channel 4 / Paul Groom It is staggering how cheek to jowl the islanders and the Germans lived - on average, there was one German soldier for every three islanders. And the occupation continued, not everyone on the islands was hostile to the enemy. Advertisement Local Methodist Minister Douglas Ord wrote in his diaries: 'I saw a young Luftwaffe man walking out with a local girl, their arms intertwined behind their backs, her head on his shoulder. "Uniform fascinates a type of female, no matter what's inside it. I can't think that any woman who goes with the occupying forces has much self-respect." Journalist Frank Falla wrote: 'Because I work at night… I see the girls being driven home by their German boyfriends. Britain does not deserve these traitors even if she has given birth to them.' Even German officer Hans Max von Aufsess wrote: 'There is a good understanding between the German soldiers and English girls. Advertisement "As long as it occurs in sufficient secrecy, the girls give in to temptation. English women are straightforward, uncomplicated and easy when it comes to love.' As long as it occurs in sufficient secrecy, the girls give in to temptation. English women are straightforward, uncomplicated and easy when it comes to love German officer Hans Max von Aufsess Douglas Ord later added to his journal: 'An unpleasant report is going round that a wretched woman has been holding cocktail parties for German officers and local girls. "There's another ugly rumour that before Christmas some 500 local girls will have had children to Germans.' Dr Louise Willmott explains: 'It did happen. You can argue that it's a natural thing in an occupation that lasts for five years, in which enmities break down and relationships are made." Advertisement She continues: 'During the war, there was condemnation of the so-called 'Jerrybags', the women who had relationships with German soldiers. But really, they're a small minority.' The issue of young women residents left with babies after having relationships with German soldiers was brought to life in the film The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, starring Lily James. Guernsey resident Dolly Edwards fell for German signaller Willi Joanknecht and theirs was the UK's first Anglo-German wedding after the war, in 1947 — but they were banned from returning to the island. Their marriage lasted more than 50 years, and they had five children. Advertisement 'Traitor babies' 20 The German occupation of the Channel Islands inspired the film The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, starring Lily James Credit: Studio Canal 20 Children whose fathers were German soliders were shunned by society Credit: Visit Guernsey 20 Islander and local journalist Frank Falla launched an underground newspaper to debunk the German propaganda 20 Bailif Coutanche was the head of Jersey's government who lifted Claude and Marcel's near execution Advertisement 20 Callum Coates plays Alexander Coutanche Credit: Channel 4 / Paul Groom Hitler wanted to build an Atlantic Wall - a huge fortification down the French coast of almost 1700 miles long - so they also had to bring in 16,000 labourers to the Channel Islands. Many of these were Next Hitler ordered the deportation of anyone not born on the islands, then radios were banned to stop Islanders from listening to BBC news. Advertisement But on 23 June 1943 the Islanders were given an opportunity to show their own resistance to the Germans. More than 400 sailors were killed when The islanders were to give them a burial - and more than 5,000 people turned out to pay their respects, draping the coffins in union flags. Frank Falla wrote: 'The people of the island decide that this is their chance to show their loyalty to Britain. 5,000 of us make our way to the funeral. The Germans are completely taken by surprise. Advertisement 'They're almost lost in this great mass of passive demonstrators. There can be no doubt where our true sympathies lie.' The people of the island decide that this is their chance to show their loyalty to Britain. 5,000 of us make our way to the funeral. The Germans are completely taken by surprise... There can be no doubt where our true sympathies lie Frank Falla But soon Frank's underground news service was uncovered by the Germans, and he and four others were convicted of spreading BBC news and deported to a prison in Germany. And in July 1944, Claude and Marcel's house was raided, where officers found a suitcase full of leaflets, a banned radio, camera, a typewriter and a revolver. The couple were sent to prison and sentenced to death for 'inciting the troops through propaganda'. Advertisement But the threat of execution was lifted when Bailif Coutanche - the head of Jersey's government - appealed on the grounds it would traumatise the islanders. The war was declared over on May 8, 1945 - and Cahun and Moore were released the same day. In July, Frank Fall returned to Guernsey determined to get justice for victims of the islands' Nazi occupation - a fight that took him 20 years. Advertisement "They were not recognised as having been the brave people who did the right thing. Instead, the bailiffs of the Channel Islands were given knighthoods. "Never being able to identify precisely the collaborators meant that for decades afterwards, the whole thing became a bigger taboo. 'My mother, who was from Guernsey, was told, for example, that she wasn't to talk to another girl in her class because her father was reputed to have been a German soldier. Read more on the Irish Sun "These sorts of things go on for generations. In fact, discussion of these matters is still taboo in the Channel Islands today.' Advertisement Britain Under the Nazis: The Forgotten Occupation airs on May 29 at 8pm on Channel 4 and is available to watch on Channel 4OD. 20 After Churchill withdrew all military troops from the Channel Islands, 94,000 islanders were left behind Credit: getty 20 Hitler planned to turn the islands into a holiday resort Credit: getty 20 Aerial view of St Peter Port which Hitler wanted to turn into a U-boat base Credit: getty Advertisement
Asia Times
14-03-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
US, China and Japan racing for the super-battleship lead
In a race similar to the Anglo-German naval buildup before World War I, the US, Japan and China are gearing up to build large, heavily armed missile warships for a potential climactic showdown at sea. Cruisers typically are the largest, most heavily armed non-carrier major surface combatants, substantially larger and heavier than destroyers or frigates. They can serve as a flagship for surface action groups (SAG) or as a command center for fleet air defense. While only the US and Russia currently operate warships formally classed as cruisers, some ships officially classed as destroyers have similar sizes and capabilities. This month, Naval News reported that US defense contractor Lockheed Martin showcased a model of Japan's advanced AEGIS System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) at the IDEX in Abu Dhabi. Set to become the world's largest stealth-guided missile destroyer outside the US Zumwalt class, Japan's ASEV will significantly strengthen its ballistic missile defense capabilities. At 190 meters and over 14,000 tons, ASEV surpasses China's Type 055 destroyer (classed as a cruiser by NATO) on many measures with AN/SPY-7 AESA radar, 128 vertical launch system (VLS) cells, Glide Phase Interceptors (GPI) for hypersonic threats and Tomahawk missiles. As regional tensions rise, delivery is expected by 2028, underscoring Japan's strategic shift from land-based systems to counter China and North Korea's evolving threats. As with Japan's ASEVs, the US Navy's DDG(X) advanced guided-missile destroyer program is progressing in the concept design phase, The War Zone reported in January 2025. The DDG(X) is envisioned to replace the US Navy's aging Ticonderoga-class cruisers, which are increasingly uneconomical to maintain with their limited combat value, and the maxed-out Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which lack space for future upgrades. Rear Admiral Bill Daly recently emphasized a 'clean-sheet imperative,' highlighting a 40-megawatt reserve power capacity for directed-energy weapons and advanced sensors supported by Zumwalt-class-derived Integrated Power Systems (IPS). However, escalating costs pose challenges; initial estimates of US$3.3 billion per ship may rise to $4.4 billion, delaying production until at least 2034. Despite plans for 28 vessels, production delays could undermine the US Navy's strategic readiness amid heightened tensions with China. In contrast to Japan and the US, whose next-generation destroyers are still on the drawing board, China has initiated a second production batch of Type 055 cruisers, leveraging shipyards at Dalian and Jiangnan to add to its fleet of eight ships, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported in February 2025. SCMP notes that the class, costing $827.4 million for each ship, features cutting-edge stealth designs, advanced radar systems and a formidable arsenal, including 112 VLS cells capable of deploying surface-to-air, anti-ship and land-attack missiles. The SCMP report also says the class integrates hypersonic and anti-submarine weaponry, enhancing its multi-role capabilities. China's Type 055 cruiser is designed to escort aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships and serve as command hubs for diverse naval operations. The buildup of large surface warships in the Pacific comes as regional navies are gearing up for high-end war-at-sea scenarios, acquiring assets with critical capabilities such as air, ballistic and cruise missile defense. Growing threat perceptions are driving increased requirements for VLS cells, as seen in Chinese, US and other regional force acquisitions. However, accommodating large VLS arrays demands significant internal space and deck area. Deployment is further complicated by technical requirements for large, high-mounted radars that can detect sea-skimming threats early. Illustrating these missile threats, the US Department of Defense's (DOD) 2024 China Military Power Report says that China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) has an estimated 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), 500 intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM), 1,300 medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM), 900 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) and 400 ground-launched cruise missiles (GLCM). Additionally, Politico reported in February 2023 that North Korea may already have enough ICBMs to overwhelm US homeland missile defenses. During an evening parade in Pyongyang, North Korea showcased 10-12 Hwasong-17 ICBMs. Politico says that if North Korea fits four warheads on each ICBM, it could overwhelm the US Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which has only 44 interceptors. Johannes Fischbach mentions in a December 2024 International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) article that China has significantly narrowed the firepower gap with the US Navy, achieving over 50% of US VLS missile cell capacity. According to Fischbach, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the world's largest navy, now fields approximately 4,300 VLS cells across 84 surface combatants, compared to the US Navy's 8,400 cells on 85 ships. He notes this progress stems from China's accelerated shipbuilding, including for Type 055 cruisers and Type 052D destroyers. In contrast, he says the US faces declining VLS capacity due to retiring Ticonderoga-class cruisers and slower construction of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. This narrowing firepower gap could significantly impair US surface warfare capabilities if left unabated. In a March 2023 Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) article, Dmitry Filipoff mentions that massed fires are central to distributed warfighting, enabling concentrated combat effects through coordinated missile salvos from dispersed units. Filipoff says this approach maximizes lethality against advanced shipboard missile defenses, which require saturation by high-volume attacks to ensure effectiveness. He emphasizes the crucial role of ship-based fires, offering unmatched magazine depth and flexibility for sustained operations, as vessels can carry and launch significant missile loads. While effective massed fires may require large, cruiser-size warships for magazine depth, US and allied shipbuilding capabilities are lagging behind China's. In a February 2024 Proceedings article, Jeffrey Seavy mentions that China has 46.59% of the global shipbuilding market, South Korea has 29.24% and Japan has 17.25%, with the US having an insignificant 0.13% share. Seavy says China's massive shipbuilding lead over the US and its allies would give it considerable advantages in a sustained naval conflict. These advantages include potentially decisive numerical superiority, increased capacity for massed ship-based fires and the ability to repair or replace damaged or destroyed warships comparatively quickly. In the Pacific's escalating naval arms race, missile firepower and shipbuilding capacity—not just technology—could determine who wins and who loses future crucial sea battles.
