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A Paradise not Only for Taxpayers

Though it is usually said that the Nazis did not manage to invade the British Islands, there was one small exception. They did manage to occupy the Channel Islands for five years, and this is not the only interesting fact, which is associated with them.

The Channel Islands (Norman: Îles d'la Manche) are situated in the English Channel. Though they are closer to the French coast, they belong to the United Kingdom. The islands were annexed to the Duchy of Normandy in 933. When William II of Normandy invaded and conquered England in 1066, they were joined to England. In 1204 the mainland of Normandy became a part of France, whereas the Channel Islands remained separate possessions of the Crown.

The Channel Islands fall into two self-governing bailiwicks and have extensive autonomy, including their own legislature. The Channel Islands are British Crown dependencies, but they are not a formal part of the United Kingdom. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is often referred to by her title Duke of Normandy. The Channel Islands are not a part of the European Union; they are part of the Customs Territory of the European Community.

A lovely seaside resort there suffered a shock in World War II, when it was occupied by German forces for five years. The British government came to the conclusion that the defence of the islands would have been too costly, which is why the islands were demilitarised and many people were evacuated. Nearly no one from the native inhabitants remained on the island of Alderney at that time. Their food supplies were already dwindling and they did not have any weapons, which is why nearly all the inhabitants left before the Germans troops even landed.

Though the island of Alderney is only 3.5 miles long, it had the largest population during the Second World War. Since the Germans set up three concentration camps, there were 15,000 people including prisoners and soldiers on the island with an area of 8 square kilometers. Many bunkers were left after the Germans; they are at present being used as warehouses or for parties. Many fortifications are reminders of the German occupation of the islands. The Nazis brought to the island thousands of prisoners primarily from Russia and Eastern Europe in order to build fortifications.

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One hundred years ago local Norman dialects were spoken on the islands. They have, however, gradually been replaced by English and at present the local language is spoken only by two or three per cent of the population.

The largest and wealthiest island is Jersey with an area of 116 square kilometers, the second largest is Guernsey, which is only half as large, and the remaining islands are even smaller than the third largest island Alderney. The total population of the islands is approximately 150,000.

An important part of the islands’ economy is financial services, making full use of the special characteristics of their tax system. The islands with their beautiful beaches are a favorite resort for tourists and vacationers. A well-known naturalist and author Gerald Durrell founded a popular Jersey Zoological Park in 1959 in order to protect those animals in danger of extinction. The centre breeds endangered species and releases them into the wildlife afterwards.

The Channel Islands have their own currency, postal stamps and, what is important, no value added tax is paid on sold goods. If you want to relax far away from civilization, visit the island of Sark – there are no cars and the only engine driven vehicles there are tractors.

Author: Martin Búr
Photo: Britainonview