Insel Soldaten

Insel Soldaten is a Living history group based in Jersey, in the Channel Islands, which aims to reconstruct the lives of the ordinary German soldier based in Jersey during the German Occupation of 1940-45 (the name is German for Island Soldiers). It is one of three re-enactment groups in Jersey, the others being the 15th century 'Company of the Duke's Leopards' and the 18th century '1781 Militia'.

Members of Insel Soldaten at Strongpoint Corbiere, including unit founder (left) and current commander (right)

Origin

The group was set up in September 2005. Initially it was intended that Insel Soldaten should provide costumed interpreters for the restored German fortifications under the care of the Jersey branch of the Channel Islands Occupation Society; however, opinion was divided over this in the CIOS, and in March 2006 it voted, in accordance with the Rules of the Channel Islands Occupation Society, to disassociate itself from all forms of uniformed WWII living history. Insel Soldaten thus became fully autonomous, and remains so to this day.

Neither society excludes members of the other.

Nature and purpose

Insel Soldaten works as a living history and re-enactment group, describing itself as being “dedicated to the accurate portrayal of the ‘average’ conscripted German soldier of World War Two who would have been stationed in Jersey”. Unlike many similar units they do not take part in mock combat, as there were no land battles in the Channel Islands during the Occupation. Their role is primarily educational, and is put into practice through the medium of static displays (either at sites such as the machine-gun emplacement at La Corbière or small encampments), school visits and work with various organisations such as the Cubs. They have also assisted with various film projects in the form of advice, equipment and cast, including work for the BBC.

Although the unit is based primarily in Jersey, membership is international. There are currently around ten members, of which about a half dozen are uniformed. Uniformed members are encouraged to create a fictional soldat to portray at events. In order to provide the greatest degree of authenticity the group uses either original or meticulously accurate reproduction uniforms and equipment, and strives to copy authentic haircuts, mannerisms and so on through research and under advice from experts including Wehrmacht veterans.

As with all Wehrmacht re-enactment groups, the focus is purely on the military aspects. Any promotion or glorification of the politics of the Nazis is strictly forbidden, as is the use of the Hitler salute. This does not conflict with their aim for accuracy, as the attitude of the Channel Islands garrison to the ideals of their political masters was frequently apathetic at best.

Units portrayed

Insel Soldaten has the capability to reconstruct most branches of the German military (although for reasons of ethics and authenticity they do not portray overtly political organisations such as the Waffen-SS, Organisation Todt or Gestapo). However, they focus on two of the many units based in the Channel Islands.

3./Batterie, MAA 604

Marine Artillerie Abteilung (MAA) 604 (604th Naval Artillery Battalion) emerged from Operation Felix, the German plan to close the Strait of Gibraltar to British use. MAA 604 was created in November/December 1940, from personnel drawn from various naval artillery units, to play a lead role. However, objections from General Franco to the planned German occupation of Gibraltar led to the cancellation of Operation Felix. MAA 604 was instead sent to the Hook of Holland where from January to March 1941 it manned an elderly pair of captured French railway guns. In March 1941 Hitler ordered the fortification of the Channel Islands and MAA 604 were transferred to various locations in the territories. 3./Batterie (the 3rd Battery), the only Naval Artillery unit in Jersey, was stationed at Noirmont in Saint Brélade. There it took command of Batterie Lothringen, a series of bunkers based around three (later four) 150mm naval guns. Lothringen personnel also undertook a tour of duty at Batterie Elsas in Alderney, from June to October 1941. Batterie Lothringen saw action harrying allied shipping and defending convoys – particularly following D-Day – and fending off occasional Allied air attacks, but otherwise passed the war relatively peacefully. Although part of the Kriegsmarine, the unit was uniformed and organised in a manner almost identical to that of the Army. MAA 604 was broken up at the end of the war, though Batterie Lothringen has been restored and is open to the public.

2./Kompanie, MG Btl. 16

Maschinengewehr-Bataillon 16 (16th Machine Gun Battalion) was formed in March 1940 as a Frontier Guard unit, to man machine gun positions in the Eifel district on the German-Belgian border. Recruits to the unit tended to be of a higher age than normal, and were nicknamed the “country bumpkins”.

As part of the 1st Cavalry Division, MG Btl. 16 first saw action on 10 May 1940 during the invasion of France. In August that year it was transferred to 216 Infantry Division and stationed in Guernsey. On 1 May 1941 it was again transferred, this time to 319 Infantry Division, and moved to Jersey where it remained for the rest of the war. The unit was given control of Defence Sector West, manning various positions along the west coast and inland including Strongpoint Corbiere, where Insel Soldaten hold some of their displays. Although various plans for the recapture of the Channel Islands were drawn up by the Allies, they were never put into action, and the Liberation was ultimately a peaceful affair. Consequently MG Btl. 16 never saw action against the enemy during its time in the Islands. Sections of Strongpoint Corbiere are undergoing restoration and are open to the public.

Public reaction

Given that the Occupation is still perceived as a sensitive subject in Jersey, and especially among the generation that have personal memories of the period, portraying enemy troops was a risk. In September 2007 articles and letters criticising Insel Soldaten were published in the Jersey Evening Post, following publication of a tongue-in-cheek photo of Insel Soldaten riding on a miniature railway at a fête in Saint Clement, where they were one of a series of military-themed displays. Paula Thelwell, organiser of Holocaust Memorial Day, described it as an "inappropriate contribution to a village fete".[1]

Nevertheless, the group has received positive public reaction. This includes responses from sections of society which might be most expected to be offended; veterans of both the Allied and Axis forces, as well as members of the public who lived in the Island during the Occupation, have praised the group for keeping the memory of the period alive. Insel Soldaten have also received interest and support from Polish and Jewish visitors, in addition to approval from other locals and visitors of various backgrounds. In August 2007 they received a letter from Lieutenant General Andrew Ridgway, the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, commending the group for their educational work.

Related and similar units

References

  1. ↑ "Respect history, don't mock it", Jersey Evening Post 12 September 2007

External links

See also