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Irish Post
2 hours ago
- General
- Irish Post
A trip to Guernsey reveals tales of resistance, betrayal and survival under Nazi occupation
IT WAS hard to imagine what had happened here 85 years ago, as I walked past the solidly British Lloyds Bank and down the lively pedestrianised High Street in Guernsey's capital. Back then, on August 16, 1940, a fearsome-looking band of Nazi soldiers had passed that very spot in perfect marching step, signalling the start of five frightening years in which Adolf Hitler's stormtroopers would occupy their only piece of British soil during World War II: the Channel Islands. Few images will have stirred the pride of Nazi Germany's dictator more than that sight, in which the invaders' column was led by a uniformed British bobby, sporting the familiar dome-shaped 'custodian' helmet of the day. In the eyes of the wider world, it looked like the beginning of the end for Britain. Here was a major propaganda victory in which a prized piece of the British Empire jigsaw was under Hitler's control and, in his twisted vision, would soon be a launchpad for the expected overwhelming invasion of 'finished England'. How wrong he was. England, after the 'miraculous' evacuation of 350,000 troops from Dunkirk, was far from 'finished' under the indomitable leadership of Winston Churchill, who had decided the Channel Islands could not be defended without huge cost and loss of life, so withdrew his forces and allowed civilians to leave for the mainland if they wished – and almost 25,000 did so. But what happened to the defenceless 66,000 who stayed behind on Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and tiny Herm? Did some risk their lives to fight back against the invaders? Or simply keep their heads down? Or, the worst option, collaborate and turn traitor? Well, I spent a week on pretty Guernsey delving into such secrets under a new World War II scheme in which tourists can relive those dark days in the shadow of the swastika. The truth emerged on tailored trails, guided walks and exhilarating high-speed boat trips with experts, as well as in the sometimes creepy confines of preserved Nazi blockhouses and museums. But I was also able to read through the ageing pages of personal diaries, history books and censored wartime newspapers in the fascinating Priaulx Local Studies Library. Here were stories and images of incredible courage – like the islanders who tapped into BBC bulletins on banned radios and circulated the news (they were betrayed by a man, thought to be Irish – see story below). But there were also traitors who took money for information, black marketeers profiting from hardship, officials who followed Nazi orders enthusiastically and, also, the reviled local women who had affairs with Nazi troops – the so-called 'Jerrybags'. Among the 24,429 people who remained on Guernsey to face the Germans, resistance was everywhere – often in small but dangerous gestures like the 'V for Victory' signs painted on countless walls and, sometimes, in the hiding of Jews and escaped slave workers which, like many such 'offences', carried the death penalty or deportation to a concentration camp. It is fascinating and humbling to follow their stories in the records, trails and museums and to wonder how any of us would have coped with those five years of mounting Nazi brutality and, toward the end, the grinding starvation as supplies ran out before the Germans on the islands finally surrendered on May 9, 1945 – 11 long and arduous months after the D-Day invasion of Europe the previous June. Of course, such a trip can also be combined with enjoyment of Guernsey's sweeping beaches, renowned hiking trails, quaint pubs, classy shopping and a wide array of cuisine – like the sumptuous seafood Thermidor at the Duke of Richmond Hotel, the comfortable base I shared with my partner and photographer Sue Mountjoy, or the mighty and succulent Tomahawk steak at the trendy Slaughterhouse restaurant on St Peter Port seafront. We also took the refreshing 20-minute ferry boat ride from St Peter Port to sweet little Herm, one of the smallest public islands in the archipelago with just 60 permanent residents, no cars or bicycles, and offering a decent pub after a brisk circular walk at one and a half miles long and half a mile wide. With little crime, friendly natives and a pace of life that is as laid-back as that of the golden cows that slumber in the rolling meadows, Guernsey truly takes you back in time – first to its dramatic wartime history, then to today's easy-going civility and a slower pace of life that many of us still crave. The Irishmen who fought for Hitler A SMALL number of Irishmen fought for the Nazis during World War II, including some who were in Guernsey during the German invasion. Among the most renowned cases is that of Leitrim-born Frank Stringer and James Brady, from Roscommon, who both ended up serving in the feared and brutal Waffen-SS until the end of the war in Berlin in 1945. Like thousands of other Irish teenagers, they had joined the British army for the travel and the pay before the war and happened to be in prison on Guernsey, after injuring a local policeman in a drunken punch-up, when the Nazis arrived. The pair were sent to a prisoner-of-war camp and then, like dozens of Irish captives, to the specialist Friesack centre, run by the Nazi Abwehr secret service, for pro-Nazi propaganda induction and explosives training. Both took part in a range of high-profile operations before Germany's defeat and, despite some debate about their enthusiasm for their roles, the pair of 'accidental Nazis' received heavy prison sentences. Another infamous Guernsey collaboration episode came a couple of years into the Nazi occupation and involved a mysterious traitor named 'Paddy'. Historians have debated the identity of 'Paddy' and whether or not he was a visiting Irishman, but the treachery that occurred centred on the Guernsey Underground News Service (GUNS), in which a group of courageous resisters distributed as many as 300 copies of an illegal news-sheet to local homes regularly. The information was culled from BBC bulletins at a time when the Nazis had banned radios and had given severe penalties to anyone caught with one. I worked in the 1970s with one of the distributors, Mick Robins – a Guernsey-born news editor in Lincolnshire – who never spoke about his bravery in riding his bike round local homes to post the newsletters after nightly curfews, risking being shot, while he was still a young boy. The GUNS team were eventually caught and sent to appalling Nazi prisons, where several died and one more succumbed soon after his release. A survivor, though, Guernsey journalist Frank Falla returned home to write a memoir, The Silent War , in which he describes the GUNS betrayal by the mysterious 'Paddy', without naming him. The mystery remains. Fact file Where to stay The Duke of Richmond offers a Classic Double room from £175 per night for two guests.
Spectator
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Demographics is the new dividing line on the right
It's an ominous time for a state-of-the-nation conference. Each week, the shores we defended against Hitler, Napoleon and the Spanish Armada are breached by hundreds of foreign men, while asylum seekers make up 'a significant proportion' of those currently being investigated for the grooming of British children. Earlier this month, there were days of violent anti-immigration riots in Ballymena. The five Gaza independents elected last year marked the grim rise of electoral sectarianism in the UK, a trend that is only set to accelerate. Academics and government insiders, despairing at the state of Britain, fret about looming civil war along ethnic lines. 'Now and England', a one-day conference hosted by the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation this week in Westminster, was billed as 'exploring nation, culture, and identity in a time of change and renewal'. In truth, 'a time of decline and crisis' would probably have been more apposite. At the root of each issue lies mass, unasked for immigration and the resultant demographic change. The figures are bleak. On current trends, white British are expected to be a minority in Britain by 2063, according to a recent study by Prof Matt Goodwin; the figure is even sooner for England. The Centre for Migration Control forecasts that if nothing changes, by 2035, one quarter of the population will be foreign-born, with one third of the of the population a first- or second-generation migrant. Fewer than one in four children in Greater London's schools are white British. To the predominantly younger right-wingers in attendance, along with the country, such trends are deeply alarming. Yet do political leaders on the right feel the same way? When Reform's Richard Tice was pressed on Goodwin's demographics projections recently on GB News, for instance, he scarcely seemed bothered. The question of the conference, then, was just how seriously it would take these issues. What is England without the English? Robert Jenrick gave it his best shot with the opening keynote. 'Mass immigration lies at the root of… so many of our problems', he said. Reckless border policies, his own party's included, had eroded our 'sense of home'. He reiterated calls for a legally binding cap on immigration and ECHR reform. It wasn't nothing, but a stump speech was hardly going to break the Overton window. Next came a worthwhile panel on cultural renewal, before the second keynote by Dr James Orr, Cambridge academic and Nat Con grandee. 'England is slipping away', he warned gravely, and the cause was 'hyper-liberalism'. It was a philosopher's way of saying that we had recklessly imported millions of foreigners in the vain pursuit of GDP growth. But it was notable that even this conservative luminary seemed to be dancing around the issue somewhat. It was on the final panel, 'England's Past and England's future' that things came to a head. Danny Kruger MP spoke of Bede, the common law, and the importance of homogeneity, but it all remained rather abstract. Apparently, what we needed was a 'violent rebellion against encroaching ideas' and to 'tame the technium'. A leading light of the class of 2019, Kruger seemed to have forgotten why his party was turfed out with such disgust at the last election. Robert Tombs spoke about historical memory. Rupert Lowe MP ranged widely on statism, Blair's constitutional revolution, the rape gangs and free speech, but demographic change didn't feature. We had all been waiting to hear from Thomas Skinner, the former Apprentice star and small business owner known for cheerily belting out 'Bosh!' on social media and seemingly eyeing a tilt at the London mayoralty (he wouldn't be drawn). But if he had any concerns about immigration and cultural change he never made them explicit, instead preferring populist bromides ('England is about the people'). All of which meant that by the Q&A, the young audience had grown restive. Up stepped one mid-20s professional to speak for England. He noted that while Kruger had spoken of greater localism – 'watching the barley grow' from his Wiltshire idyll – this was hardly much of a solution when demographic change has already rendered some English councils corrupt tribal fiefdoms. Being from Rotherham, he said, he would know. 'So my question is, if we reach a juncture where democracy becomes a zero-sum game between different ethnic and religious blocs, what feasible future is there for it?' It was like a dam breaking: suddenly, thunderous applause and whoops filled the 200-seat lecture theatre, the loudest we had heard all day. (Later, several people went to congratulate him.) Skinner seemed uncomfortable, while Lowe was making notes. Piling on the pressure, there followed the voice of Carl Benjamin of the Lotus Eaters, noting how the central question of demographics had loomed over the whole conference largely unsaid. He then went after Danny Kruger for a remark in his speech that 'anyone can become English', also drawing applause. The panel tried to answer, but it was clear they were on uncomfortable territory. 'I detect a very strong desire for action to restore the basis of our polity lest we lose it altogether', noted Kruger, gingerly. Rupert Lowe offered simply that people who come to Britain ought to speak English and pay their taxes; Skinner had gone out for a phone call. Tombs at least volunteered that we should ban postal voting and cousin marriage. But in his view, the best approach would be to 'clone Katharine Birbalsingh', the headmistress of the ultra-diverse and disciplinarian Michaela School in West London. If you've seen 'little girls with headscarves on reciting Kipling and singing the national anthem' he said, 'you think becoming English is quite possible if you want to do it, and if you're encouraged to do it and indeed required to do it'. Tombs then argued that being English was something that 'we all learn'. This is the nub of the issue: the largely generational divide that is becoming increasingly visible on the British right. There are many who prefer to ignore ethnicity, ancestry and demographics on the grounds that such topics are both immaterial and icky; there are even some who insist, against all the available evidence, that multiculturalism has been a success. On the other hand there are those who are unapologetic about believing that the English are an ethnic group, that England is our home, and that the more diverse our society becomes, the less happy it will be. Such sentiments would have been common sense to most people throughout human history. It is ordinary and natural to identify with one's ethnic group. It is also ordinary and natural for a people to understand itself as a people. Yet for the past 60 years, as woke moral guardrails have expanded throughout our culture, such sentiments have been rendered deeply taboo. If that taboo is now being broken, it is not before time.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Should we call Indira Gandhi a saint for imprisoning Constitution?": BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla slams Congress
New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shehzad Poonawalla slammed Congress government in Karnataka over the registration of FIR against state BJP unit iover a social media post related to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla pointed out that rather focussing on the social media post, Karantaka Congress should focus on setting up the accountability for the 'murder' of 11 people in the Bengaluru stampede. 'Now will there be an FIR on stating facts? Should we call Indira Gandhi a saint for imprisoning the constitution? and for the way sterilisation of crores was done, lakhs were put in jail, lakhs were made homeless, basic constitutional rights were ripped off, 250 journalists were imprisoned. There are no FIR on the people who call PM Modi Hitler and demean him each day,' BJP spokesperson said. 'Today Karnataka Congress is screaming that they have Emergency-like DNA. There is no accountability for the 'murder' of 11 people in stampede, multiple scams, inflation and breaking promises made in manifesto, girl child harassed in broad daylight. This represents their priority,' he added. This comes after an FIR was registered against Karnataka BJP over their controversial social media post on X, targeting former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Earlier today, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara defended the registration of an FIR against the Karnataka BJP for its controversial post on 'X' targeting former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, saying the action was taken in response to complaints. Speaking to reporters, Parameshwara said, 'FIRs are registered based on certain complaints or suo moto if there are some things which generate animosity among people. In this case, if someone tries to malign the leader who served the country for many years and considers the positive development during that time, naturally, some people will object.' Karnataka BJP Chief BY Vijayendra defended the party's social media post, claiming that it was an apt description of the emergency imposed. 'Yesterday was the completion of 50 years of the day when Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in the country. This issue has been discussed nationwide. What is wrong with the BJP's comparison of Indira Gandhi to Hitler? The world knows how the entire democracy collapsed to save her power... Senior leaders, Sangh parivar, everybody was put behind bars, and the media was suppressed... Probably DK Shivakumar must go back and learn what history has to say about the Emergency, about how democracy was suppressed,' he said. Between 25 June 1975 and 21 March 1977, India was placed under a state of Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution. On 25 June 1975, the then-President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed issued the Emergency Proclamation under Article 352, citing threats from internal disturbance. This was the third Emergency in India's history, but the first one declared in peacetime. Earlier proclamations were during wars with China (1962) and Pakistan (1971). (ANI)
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka BJP's Twitter account booked for defaming former PM Indira
The High Ground police have booked the official Twitter account of the State BJP for allegedly uploading defamatory posts against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi equating her with Hitler. Based on the complaint filed by S. Manohar, general secretary, KPCC, the police charged the accused under Sections 192 ( wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) under BNS. The post has a morphed video of Ms. Gandhi while mentioning the emergency period.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kanye to headline Slovakia festival despite pro-Hitler song
Kanye to headline Slovakia festival despite pro-Hitler song (Image: AP) "Hip-hop visionary, cultural icon and controversial genius YE will perform July 20, 2025 exclusively at the Rubicon Festival in Bratislava. It will be his only confirmed live performance in Europe in 2025 — and ever first show in Slovakia in history," organizers confirmed on the event's website on Monday. "Rubicon Festival is raising the bar for European festivals to a whole new level." His participation in the festival has sparked anger. More than 3,000 people have already signed a petition asking the festival to cancel the performance of the rapper, who is formerly known as Kanye West. The authors of the petition point out that Ye has in recent years repeatedly and openly adopted the symbolism and ideology associated with Nazi Germany, having written, for example, "I am a Nazi" and "I love Hitler" on social media platforms. "He trivializes the crimes of the totalitarian dictatorial regime and the war atrocities that also affected the Slovak population," the petition reads. The petition refers to Ye's latest track, "Heil Hitler," which was released on May 8 — the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The song references the Nazi salute which was used while Adolf Hitler was in power. The single's artwork resembles a swastika, and the song ends with a lengthy sample from a Hitler speech. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo As the petition also mentions, the song is banned in Germany. Nazi symbols prohibited in Germany Within Germany, Ye's video cannot be seen among his posts on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Changing one's location to the United States with a VPN makes the post visible. "Heil Hitler" was used as an official greeting in Nazi Germany. The accompanying arm movement, which is made with the right arm extended and the palm facing down, is said to have its origins in ancient Rome and was then adopted by Italy's fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, in the 1920s. Later, Hitler made it a signature of the Nazi Party, which ruled Germany from 1933 until 1945. In the postwar era, West German authorities banned the use of many Nazi symbols and gestures as the country emerged from the Holocaust, which claimed millions of victims throughout Europe. The public display or dissemination of Nazi symbols and slogans such as the arm gesture or the phrase became a criminal offense under Section 86a of the German criminal code. This law prohibits the use of symbols associated with "unconstitutional organizations," including those affiliated with the party, such the swastika, SS runes and the Nazi salute and slogans. Using such symbols or gestures can be punished with up to three years in prison or a fine. Denying the Holocaust is also illegal in Germany and many other European countries, as well as in Canada and Israel. Eighty years after the end of the war, the ban on Nazi-related content remains strict Nazi symbols not banned in the US To counter the rise of far-right groups and growing antisemitism, other countries have also banned hate symbols — some quite recently. In February, Australia passed a law against hate crimes that includes minimum sentences for displaying hate symbols, including the Nazi salute. In the United States, many forms of hate speech are protected by the US Constitution's First Amendment, which is meant to guarantee free expression. It is not illegal to perform a Nazi salute or wear a swastika in the United States. Since World War II, the salute has often been used by neo-Nazis and white nationalists. In 2016, for example, a shocking video showed a white supremacist group supporting Donald Trump's 2016 presidential win by raising their arms in an apparent Nazi-style salute. In January, X owner Elon Musk, who openly supports the nationalist Alternative for Germany party, came under scrutiny for performing what looked like a Nazi-style salute at Trump's second inauguration. Musk's defenders claimed it was accidental; many observers saw it as intentional. In response, activists from campaign group Led by Donkeys projected an image on his Tesla factory just outside of Berlin showing Musk doing the gesture, with the title appearing as "Heil Tesla." The group felt that if the German authorities considered the symbol to be illegal according to the country's criminal code, it would prove that Musk had performed the Nazi salute. Musk has come under fire for expressing antisemitic views in recent years, including responding to a user on X in 2023 who accused Jewish communities of "pushing ... dialectical hatred against whites," a conspiracy theory popular among white supremacists. "You have said the actual truth," Musk tweeted in a reply to the user. Lack of tech company regulation Though platforms including Spotify, YouTube and Soundcloud worked to ban Ye's single quickly after its release because of its antisemitic content, the video was widely available on X. Even though Ye has been suspended multiple times from Twitter and now X for antisemitic content, his account has always been restored. Ye's celebrity status also led fans to share the video on Facebook, Instagram and Reddit, among other platforms, millions of times. It shows just how little power big tech companies seem to have — or want to put into removing offensive content once it has already been published. The video and the scramble to remove it have caused a renewed look at the content policies of major tech companies, particularly the social media platforms owned by Meta. In light of the video, the Anti-Defamation League, a US-based, international nongovernmental organization that combats antisemitism, bigotry and discrimination, started a petition asking Facebook and Instagram to "reinstate guidelines meant to protect users from disinformation and hate" on Facebook and Instagram. Meta announced in January that it would no longer employ fact checkers, and loosened rules around hate speech and abuse in light of "recent elections" — a reference to Trump's presidential win. Yet the pro-Hitler rhetoric spouted by Ye's latest single still falls under the company's rule of prohibiting "harmful stereotypes historically linked to intimidation, including Blackface and Holocaust denial."
