On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Guernsey’s liberation, the Channel Island resonates with intense emotions, ringing bells, and shared memories. Balancing both celebration and remembrance, Guernsey pays tribute to the tenacity of its inhabitants, who managed to endure five years of German occupation through resilience and resourcefulness that demands admiration. Through parades, ceremonies, and poignant stories, the small island awakened by History invites us to relive those moments when hope triumphed over fear.
A breeze of freedom blows over the island
On May 9th, all the churches in Guernsey ring their bells in unison, while the Union Jack and the island’s flags flutter proudly in the sea breeze. 80 years ago, the destroyer HMS Bulldog anchored in Saint Peter Port, the capital, to officially witness the surrender of the last 5,000 soldiers of the Reich. Just a few hours later, it was the day after the German capitulation in Europe. Since then, this date remains one of the most vibrant gatherings in the island’s calendar, where the past intertwines with the present against a backdrop of collective joy and deep gratitude.
Memories carried with pride and united spirits
The stories of the German Occupation still linger over the cliffs and alleys of the island. For five long years, Guernsey lived in isolation and deprivation. However, as Amanda Johns, a local guide, recounts, not everything was completely cut off from the continent: “Some listened to the BBC secretly on makeshift radios,” she confides. Resources were scarce, but the population demonstrated remarkable ingenuity to survive, bartering, repairing, and helping each other daily, when the instinct of solidarity became the law. It is this spirit that today’s young and old celebrate, united by the memory of those who never succumbed to discouragement.
Ceremonies, parades, and a nod to history
To mark this 80th anniversary, Guernsey is pulling out all the stops: military parades, brass band concerts, and historical reenactments flood the flower-filled streets of Saint Peter Port. The island is welcoming numerous visitors eager to share, with family or friends, the emotion of a unique moment. Joyful celebrations, indeed, but also deep solemnity during the ceremonies held in front of the war monuments, where veterans and descendants of the unsung heroes of the Resistance gather, sometimes with eyes glistening from an undimmed memory.
An echo beyond the island: shared memory
The commemoration of Guernsey’s liberation is part of a broader movement to preserve collective memory. More and more people are choosing to rediscover the old continent and its hidden treasures, as evidenced by recent trends in cultural tourism. Moreover, some Swiss nationals prefer to settle in historically rich French towns (learn more), while others explore Rome with the desire to pay tribute to significant figures (travel to Rome), demonstrating that the strength of memory transcends borders and connects peoples. Read the testimony in Italian, in English, in Dutch.
The island proud of its traditions and its future
True to what it has always been – a land of passage, exchange, and resistance – Guernsey celebrates its liberation in an atmosphere full of enthusiasm, oscillating between memory and modernity. People come here to remember, but also to savor the sweetness of life on an island that continues to reinvent itself, strong in its untamed past and a collective spirit that remains vibrant. The commemoration of the 80 years thus extends far beyond a mere celebration: it honors a significant part of European culture and the hopes entwined in the hearts of those who never give up, celebrated with pride.
À lire the classic and sports car show in the United Kingdom on June 7th and 8th, 2025
