Alderney: Evacuation and Occupation 1940-45
Around 1,400 people lived in Alderney in 1940. Once France fell to the Germans, given the choice between evacuating and remaining, almost the entire population elected to leave after a mass meeting at Les Butes. They were taken to Weymouth, England on Sunday, June 23.
At the Alderney Museum is a 'census' of the population at this time. Sorted by index cards, the list gives a great deal of information, both about the individuals and their immediate families and other relations, births of children (three on the ships during the journey to Weymouth) and deaths, while the arrangements were being made, and details of the occupations, maiden names of wives and widows and the properties lived in, plus the contents of these houses when the hurried evacuation commenced.
Once the Germans arrived on July 2, the handful that stayed were moved to Guernsey and Alderney was fortified. Slave labour was used to build this stronghold, administered by the infamous Organisation Todt, many died.