Island at War: Separating Fact from Fiction
Before diving into the details, let’s answer the immediate question: Is "Island at War" based on a book? The short answer is yes, Island at War, a British television series set during World War II on the Channel Island of Alderney, is indirectly based on a book – or rather, a number of books and diaries written by survivors of the wartime occupation.
Laying the Groundwork**
Alderney, situated off the coast of Norman France, was occupied by German forces from July 2, 1940, until May 17, 1945. With a population of less than 5,000 Islanders, the island became the smallest of the British Crown dependencies to be occupied, and one of the shortest-lived. The war led to significant changes and tragedy for the Islanders, inspiring numerous accounts of life and survival during those difficult times.
A Journalist’s Quest for Fact**
Journalist and Author, Simon Read, attempted to separate fact from fiction in his book “Fight to the Death: Winning the Channel Islands Back” (2001). Mr. Read’s exhaustive research, including interviews with Isle of Wight locals involved in the liberation efforts and archival records, allowed for a detailed and historically grounded account of the conflict’s events. His book primarily focuses on the occupation in Jersey, but offers comparisons and insights into Alderney’s experiences, crucial for understanding the “real” story behind the occupation.
Dilemmas and Challenges Faced by Islanders**
For anyone familiar with the plight of the Channel Islanders, several key aspects of “Island at War” spring to mind:
* **Cooperation vs. Resistance** : Islanders faced impossible dilemmas: cooperate with Nazi forces to ensure the bare minimum of survival, knowing that any resistance might invoke brutal reprisals on their families and loved ones.
* **Supply Problems** : The limited logistical capabilities of the Nazi commanders, combined with Allied shipwrecks, submarine attacks, and treachery, led to numerous supply shortages, disease spreads, and starvation on islands.
* **Civil Resistance** : Despite harsh situations, Islanders continued to develop clandestine networks to sustain each other, hiding enemy soldiers, and resisting when possible.
Contact with the Outside World Snapped**
**No clear communication** with the German mainland or the occupied Zone meant that Islanders lived as isolated as they would outside of the war – limited information, no guidance; they were forced to take matters into their own hands.
Much of the Story was Known, but…**
According to Simon Read’s experience, many Islanders preferred oral accounts and anecdotes shared around **family gatherings** to maintain a sense of connection throughout the war. Oral evidence, though valuable, did not always provide objective **historical accuracy**, inviting the need for documentation as a means to fill voids in the written records (e.g., no known records of Alderney’s occupation).
**Notable Events and Actions Involving Alderney**
| Event/Issue | Description |
| :——— | :————|
| **German Mine Factory** | Construction and implementation of a mine manufacturing establishment, which employed thousands by 1943 |
| **Alderney Residents’ Exile** | Forced relocation of some resident Islanders to the Channel Islanders’ mainland (not detailed in “Island at War”) |
| **Alderney Liberation Memorial** | Construction in the memory of those who lived to see the end of War |
‘Reality Check’ for Islanders’
In the face of dire circumstances, Islanders discovered small victories, such as resourcefulness, resilience, self-sacrifice, humor, and community; events that would become hallmarks of their wartime narrative for generations to come. Many Islanders, like countless refugees worldwide, experienced emotional battles, as they watched livelihoods crumble beneath totalitarian rule.
