A week steeped in history : soldiers of ARRC ’ s German contingent visit Guernsey
Captain Charlotte Kulla
In late 2022 , German soldiers from ARRC travelled to Guernsey to maintain both British and German war graves whilst understanding the Channel Islands role during the Second World War .
In the latest of several visits to the Channel Islands , dating back to 2015 , ARRC ’ s German contingent maintained its close relations with the branch of the Royal British Legion on Guernsey by helping to maintain its war cemeteries .
The Channel Islands were the only British soil continuously occupied by Germany during the Second World War . Thus Guernsey , the second largest island , is home to a German Military Cemetery .
The German cemetery sits at the heart of the relationship the ARRC German contingent has with the region and was the reason for a five-day trip of German service members and their partners .
The high value of the relationship built between ARRC and the islands is highlighted by a personal reception between the Bailiff , Guernsey ’ s highest civil servant , the head of the German delegation and with the Lieutenant-Governor , who is the direct representative of the British Crown in Guernsey .
Remembrance of a British Commando Raid
During the night of 3-4 Oct 1942 12 British Commandos were ordered to take a German prisoner of war on the island of Sark in what was known as Operation Basalt . The seizing of this prisoner had great influence on the further developments of the war .
The German group visited the commemorative stone marking the spot in 1942 where the Commandos landed and climbed the cliffs of Sark . They also received a guided tour , retracing their steps thus reliving the operation step by step leading to a truly interactive learning experience .
More than just cleaning and maintaining graves
The primary reason for the trip was the maintenance of the 111 graves of German soldiers who died mainly in bombing raids , buried in the Military Cemetery . This was only possible due to the close cooperation of the German War Grave Commission .
Alongside the work , a local historian visited the German group and shared 25 of the 111 soldiers ’ stories about their lives and deaths on Guernsey thus adding faces to the names on the graves .
Captain Adrian who organized the trip summarized the importance of the work with the War Grave Commission : “ If we do not honour and remember the fallen soldiers and their sacrifices , we
Gun ready , fire !
Toward the end of the week , four of the German group were given the privilege of being the first German soldiers invited to take part in the cannot expect other men and women to defend our freedom . All the dead deserve to rest in adequate and wellmaintained graves . The War Grave Commission does great work but needs support .”
The service members tend to the 111 graves of German soldiers with great dedication ( Source : DtA ARRC )
salute to Guernsey-borne war hero of the early 19th century , Major General Sir Isaac Brock .
Four of the seven cannons , located on the ramparts of St Peters Port Castle , were fired in salute . This iconic landmark was once was the residence of the Lieutenant-Governor and now serves as a museum .
A local guide introduces the members of ARRC ’ s German contingent to the background of Op Basalt ( Source : DtA ARRC )
A crowning finale : wreath-laying ceremony and trumpet playing
The week ended with a moment of remembrance . Accompanied by a trumpet player the service members of ARRC ’ s German contingent laid a wreath at the British as well as German memorial honouring and remembering the fallen of both nations .
Captain Adrian states : “ Every sacrifice counts and no matter which side they fought on , these soldiers gave the greatest sacrifice in the hope of a better tomorrow . We are living the future they never had .”
Laying of a wreath at the memorial at the military cemetery ( Source : DtA ARRC )
Soldiers of ARRC ’ s German contingent have the honour to fire salute with their British comrades at the historic guns of castle cornet ( Source : DtA ARRC ) the imjin WINTER 2022-23
11