Preparation for D-Day D-Day is one of the most remembered campaigns of the Second World War. The operation involved troops from Britain, the United States, Canada and several other countries. On 6 June 1944, the Allied forces sailed toiled on various elements of the campaign, NETHERLANDS across the English Channel to begin their from providing safe harbours for the Newday Offices campaign to gain victory against the travelling fleet to ensuring that fuel would Jansbuitensingel 30 German army. Planning the invasion was an be in plentiful supply. An array of sites 6811 AE, Arnhem, NL +31 (0)85-3309090 enormous undertaking. linked to the planning, preparation and Ecstatic crowds greet British Officerrs from the Liberating British Force. ©Guernsey Museum implementation of D-Day are located across Often overlooked, planning the invasion BELGIUM Britain. Rue de Stassart 131 (codenamed Operation Overlord) was a The Channel Islands, from 1050 Brussels, BE mammoth task. A vast army of workers +32 (0) 485 136 833 occupation to liberation liberationroute.com When it became clear that the Islands would be JURRIAAN DE MOL, occupied, the population faced the traumatic decision Director Netherlands to leave their homes and move to England, divide their [email protected] +31 (0) 6 54388386 family by evacuating only their children or to remain together living under German rule. JOËL STOPPELS, Project manager Those choosing to remain experienced Mainly used for hunting and training [email protected] five hard and hungry years living under exercises, these smaller Islands remained +31 (0) 6 36 33 53 70 stifling rules and regulations. Almost half largely unoccupied by German forces. The of the resident population of Guernsey Islands were liberated by Allied Force 135 The Liberation Route Europe has been a remained on the Island during the German on the 9 & 10 May 1945. While the liberation “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” since 2019 occupation; four fifths of children and was achieved without armed conflict, sadly 12,000 adults had been evacuated at short both British and German soldiers lost their notice prior to the bombing of St. Peter Port lives clearing mines. harbour by German forces on 28 June 1940. The effects of the occupation were far Around 6,000 of the 47,000 inhabitants reaching. Food shortages had emaciated PARTNERS & SPONSORS of Jersey fled. Conversely, virtually all the inhabitants of the Islands and German residents of Alderney were evacuated and fortifications dotted the landscape. Many the occupying forces arrived to an almost evacuated children suffered an inability to uninhabited Island. In contrast, no Sark re-connect with their families, which would Eisenhower talking to his troops Map showing disembarkation and embarkation points residents left the Island. One family lived linger throughout their lives. TOUR & TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL & TOUR UK & THE CHANNEL ISLANDS for the D-Day landings on Herm Island and Lihou was abandoned. 27th of January Holocaust Memorial Day History 8th Dummy aircraft as part of Operation Fortitude of May Victory in Europe VE-Day Prime Minister Winston Churchill Day (VE-Day) gives the V for Victory sign. As D-Day approached, Kent became the stage for Quickly following the United States’ entrance into 9th one of the War’s greatest deception plans, Operation the Second World War in December 1941, hundreds of Key events & commemorations events Key of May United Kingdom Fortitude South. In order to mislead the German army thousands of American troops crossed the Atlantic to Liberation Day and conceal the real location of the Allied invasion of the UK to assist with the war effort in Europe. They (Channel Islands) Great Britain played a key role in the resistance against Germany and its final Western Europe, extensive military preparations were remained in large numbers throughout the rest of the 11th defeat. After the defeat of France in 1940, made around Dover. But it was all fake. war from 1942 to 1945. This event became known as of November UK was left to face Nazi Germany on its own the ‘Friendly Invasion’. Operation Fortitude sought to mislead the German army Invasion’ The ‘Friendly Remembrance Day until the United States and the Soviet Union and conceal the real location of the foreseen Allied invasion entered the war. British forces fought on The American servicemen stationed in various villages and of Normandy (June 1944). Operation Fortitude North was almost all fronts while the civilians endured cities throughout the UK had a profound impact on British designed to give the impression of an impending Allied attacks by the German Air Force and later by culture. They introduced popular American music and invasion of Norway, while Operation Fortitude South was dances such as the jitterbug to Great Britain. In addition, ONE OF THE WAR’S GREATEST DECEPTION OPERATIONS DECEPTION GREATEST WAR’S THE OF ONE the V-weapons. In 1944, Great Britain also FortitudeOperation to develop a mock invasion at Pas-de-Calais, all working to became the staging ground for the Allied iconic American food appeared in Britain for the first time divert German troops away from Normandy. invasion of Western Europe. such as peanut butter, chewing gum, donuts For the German troops, Pas-de-Calais looked to be the and Coca Cola. British families often opened obvious place for an Allied invasion into Europe, offering Racial segregation. their homes to the American servicemen for the shortest route across the Channel. A fictitious 1st U.S. The Channel Islands tea and meals. The Americans brought gifts The Americans also brought their oppressive system of Army Group (FUSAG) was placed in Kent, supported by such as chocolate, candy, cigarettes, and racial segregation with them. White and African American The self-governing British Crown the construction of roads, bridges, buildings, airfields and nylon stockings – items in short supply due servicemen served in separate units, and spent their free Dependencies of Jersey and Guernsey embarkation points where dummy airplanes and landing to rations. Many American camps held dances time apart. Certain British towns were designated by the were the only parts of the British Isles to be crafts were stationed. Even false radio transmissions were open to the public with many British girls U.S. military as only for black or white soldiers, while others occupied by Nazi Germany. From June 1940 made. as the special guests. American servicemen alternated certain days for each race. Many interracial onwards, they were turned into fortresses, A decrypted transmission from the Japanese Ambassador would often spend their free time in many relationships between black American servicemen and their guarding the French coast against Allied to his government, recounting a conversation with Hitler, of the cinemas, cafes, restaurants and pubs, white British girlfriends ended in tears. Families were often attacks, with several coastal batteries and revealed that the German troops indeed expected an Allied cultivating friendly relationships that often separated as interracial marriage remained illegal in many numerous bunkers. The Allied blockade, invasion via the Straits of Dover. On 5 June 1944, a mock turned into romantic ones. This resulted in a American states in the years following the war. By the end imposed on the islands following the win invasion was launched from Dover, while the real invasion on great number of wartime marriages. Many of of the war, the American – British cultural relationship was of the Battle of Normandy, resulted in 6 June, Operation Overlord, successfully delivered 185.000 the British girlfriends emigrated to the US at largely strengthened thanks to the ‘Friendly Invasion’. The considerable privations for the civilians that troops across to Normandy. the end of the war... images above capture the friendship that grew between the were not evacuated and relief only came after Even long after the Normandy landings, Adolf Hitler retained Americans soldiers and British civilians during these three the surrender of Nazi Germany. his best troops in Pas-de-Calais, expecting an even larger years. invasion at a later date. Important sites across the country Preparation for D-Day 1 2 1 2 International Bomber Command Centre Bletchley Park Churchill War Rooms The D-Day Story LINCOLN ― internationalbcc.co.uk MILTON KEYNES ― bletchleypark.org.uk LONDON ― iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms PORTSMOUTH ― theddaystory.com 3 4 3 4 Cambridge American Cemetery IWM Duxford Maritime Museum Allied naval headquarters, and Memorial DUXFORD ― iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford ST. HELIER ― jerseyheritage.org/places-to-visit/ Southwick House MADINGLEY ― abmc.gov/Cambridge maritime-museum FAREHAM ― Admission by email DSPG-HQ- [email protected] 5 Royal Navy Submarine Museum GOSPORT ― nmrn.org.uk/submarine-museum Dover Castle 5 6 DOVER ― english-heritage.org.uk/visit/ places/dover-castle Imperial War Museum LONDON ― iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london 4 5 2 The Channel Islands, 1 from occupation to liberation 1 10 11 1 2 4 Alderney Harbour & Museum The German Occupation Museum 2 5 ALDERNEY ISLAND ― LES HOUARDS FOREST, GUERNSEY ― alderneysociety.org/museum germanoccupationmuseum.co.uk 3 4 2 4 3 Castle Cornet Elizabeth Castle 1 ST. PETER PORT, GUERNSEY ― ST. HELIER ― 5 museums.gov.gg/CastleCornet jerseyheritage.org/places-to-visit/elizabeth-castle 6 Monument to Freedom ST. HELIER 6 6 5 7 7 V for Victory 3 ST. HELIER 3 8 Mill Lane and La Seigneurie 9 LA SEIGNEURIE, SARK ISLAND ― laseigneuriegardens.com Memorial to US Motor Torpedo 8 Fauvic Embarkation Point 9 Squadron 34 GROUVILLE ST. BRELADE Liberation Monument 10 Herm Harbour 11 The White Rock Pier HERM ISLAND ST. PETER PORT, GUERNSEY.