“Forgotten Histories: Alderney’s Untold Stories of Nazi Occupation and Resilience”
Alderney, a tranquil British island known for its exquisite natural beauty, was once the sole location of Nazi camps on British soil – a hell on Earth for thousands of prisoners and laborers.
In the aftermath of the Holocaust, Britain’s special envoy Eric Pickles ordered a fresh investigation in Alderney, led by a panel of experts, to determine the precise number of deaths of prisoners and laborers and to dispel conspiracy theories circulating about the island.
The findings, published on Wednesday, revealed that more deaths occurred initially post-liberation compared to the recorded figures, but no evidence of “mini-Auschwitz” was found.
The investigation also uncovered why most Nazi perpetrators, many of whom escaped justice, were never prosecuted in Britain.
During most of World War II, this island, spanning three square miles, was under Nazi control. During that time, three forced labor camps and a concentration camp named Lager Sylt were established.
Nearly eight decades later, remnants of Nazi occupation still loom over the desolate island, featuring bunkers, tank-defying walls, and infamous water lane tunnels constructed by occupying forces to store war materials and fuel.
“Unveiling Shadows: Exploring Alderney’s Untold WWII Legacy”
According to its tourism board, residents of Alderney, numbering just over 2,000, gather annually in May to commemorate the island’s victims with a memorial service.
This figure has long been contentious, estimated by historians, Jewish community members, and the public alike ranging from hundreds to several thousand.
