At a special ceremony to mark the liberation of a prison camp in the quiet town of Bad Wurzach, Mayor Roland Bürkle asked for Jersey’s friendship in the future as he spoke of the ‘reign of terror’ suffered by some internees.
In retaliation for German nationals being imprisoned by Allied troops in the Middle East in 1942, Hitler ordered that all Channel Island residents who had direct British connections be deported to prison camps.
With just 24 hours’ notice, over 2,000 Channel Islanders were taken from the islands, with 618 coming from Jersey. They spent the rest of the war locked inside the grounds of an old castle in the centre of Bad Wurzach until French troops liberated the camp 65 years ago yesterday.
Speaking at the ceremony yesterday – which was attended by Bailiff Michael Birt, Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur and St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, Mr Bürkle said: ‘We beg for forgiveness from those who are with us today and who suffered under the reign of terror and ask for their friendship in the future. I believe that if we take this to our hearts then we are commemorating with honour those from Jersey who remained in Bad Wurzach.’
