The Jersey War Tunnels

Jersey was occupied by the Germans on 1 July 1940, after the British government had decided that they would not try to defend it, and was not liberated until 9 May 1945. The German occupation was characterised by the introduction of numerous penal laws, severe food shortages, widespread fear and suspicion, and the forced labour used to buttress Hitler's Atlantic wall. Part of Hitler's defences comprised the Jersey War Tunnels.

The Tunnels, which stretch to over 1 kilometre in length and are large enough to hold tanks, were designed to help German infantry resist air raids and artillery bombardment. They were built by slave workers and civilian prisoners controlled by the paramilitary Organisation Todt, excavating thousands of tonnes of rock and using it to make the man-made hill above the tunnels.Later on in the war, the Jersey War Tunnels were equipped as an emergency hospital and casualty clearing station, complete with 500 beds, air conditioning and heating systems, and gas-proof doors.The Tunnels have now been turned into substantial exhibition space, teaching visitors about the history of the Second World War, the occupation and the difficulties and dangers faced by locals.