Where are the Channel Islands located?
The Channel Islands sit in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They form an archipelago divided into two Crown Dependencies: the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Questions about Channel Islands
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did human occupation begin in the Channel Islands?
The earliest evidence of human occupation of the Channel Islands has been dated to 250,000 years ago when they were attached to the landmass of continental Europe. The islands became detached by rising sea levels in the Mesolithic period.
What happened to the Channel Islands during World War II?
German troops landed between the 30th of June and the 4th of July 1940 after British Government demilitarisation in June 1940. The end of the occupation came after VE-Day on the 8th of May 1945, with Jersey and Guernsey being liberated on the 9th of May.
How many people died in Alderney prison camps during German occupation?
In Alderney, the occupying Germans built four prison camps which housed approximately 6,000 people, of whom over 700 died. There was considerable hunger and privation during the five years of German occupation, particularly in the final months when the population was close to starvation.
Are the Channel Islands part of the United Kingdom?
Each of these is a British Crown Dependency, and neither is a part of the United Kingdom. A bailiwick is a territory administered by a bailiff, and the legal courts are separate with separate courts of appeal having been in place since 1961.