Jersey
under the Swastika!

Page 15 - Philip Frederick Le Sauteur

CHAPTER FIVE (SECTION 1)

Labour Problems

The incidence of the German occupation of the Channel Islands in June, 1940, suddenly brought to an end the satisfactory labour or employment conditions which had characterized the Islands for so long a period. In a moment, as it were, the Islands' main purchaser (England) had been ruthlessly severed from us. We had developed a trade, a really wonderful trade,  in just those commodities which were constantly needed by those who lived "over the Channel". In other words, the Islands had more or less specialized in their normal productions, and had a ready and responsive market. Almost in a twinkling this specialization had to take a sort of back seat, for, to the Germans, something  more tangible and robust than "mere eatables" and drinkables, perhaps, had to occupy the first place in the Islands' economy (if one can really term it that, seeing the Islands had become occupied territory, and at the mercy of the whims of the occupying forces).

True it is that up to a point some of the Islands' normal produce was still to be produced — and this for internal consumption — but in the main the available labour had to be organized for —,  yes, for what? That was the great question at the beginning of the Islands' new life, for really no-one could rightly say for what. Probably the van of the occupying forces themselves were not fully aware of this intriguing question either.

At the beginning it had been announced that the German Authorities would neutralize the Islands' defences. Did that mean merely what it indicated by those very words? Or was this a quiet way of inferring that before long the Germans would not only prepare their own defences, but actually transform the occupied territory into one vast, or series of vast, fortress or fortresses? Yes,  in which both offensive and defensive mechanisms would operate side by side? So far as the local people were concerned this was "'in the air" — they only knew, and effectively realized before long, that the entire economy was being ruthlessly reorganized, and in this reorganization many, if not the majority of the Islanders would be badly affected by what was almost immediately taking place. As is usual in almost every form of transition, it was not very long before much of the local labour was idle, there being no immediate employment far them in the Islands' normal economy.

As for Jersey, when the occupation took place there were many hundreds of Irish labourers (and English conscientious objectors) in the Island. They had come for the potato season — for potatoes  were one of our staple exports, and in the normal course of the Island's life many such workers came to assist in the harvesting of the crops.

For some unexplained reason, those of these particular individuals on the Island when it was occupied had elected not to be evacuated. A few of the Irish labourers were at first disposed to make a nuisance of themselves, but a stern warning from the German Commandant quickly quelled any possibility of real bother. These men, together with those whose employment had automatically ceased with the sudden rupture of communication with England, formed a nucleus of unemployment, creating a problem which was speedily taken in hand by the States Department of Labour, which had been formed almost immediately after the occupation. As a temporary —  but still very important — stop-gap, road-widening and road-making schemes were quickly got under way in the attempt to absorb this surplus labour.

As the months rolled on, and the Germans became more and more rooted in the Island, many new avenues for local employment were created, these in the main to make up for the goods which had been so wantonly purchased from the shops, and which could not be replaced from their normal sources of supply. The States Labour Department, carefully and energetically handling the growing problem of employment, had, by the close of 1940, some thousands of men and hundreds of girls in useful employment.

A new road was made from Corbiere over the cliffs to La Pulente, and another was planned to be constructed at La Saline (St. John's), whilst a good deal of widening and straightening was being carried out elsewhere.

The numerous trees which had been blown down in the November gales of that year were sawn into blocks, for use as fuel, and experimental excavations were made for peat at St. Ouen's and Grouville.

Wooden soles for boots, canvas clogs for children, sweeping brooms and many other necessities, all of which were running short, were in production. The girls were employed at Summerland factory under the aegis of the States, making slippers and clothing of all descriptions, their only limitation being in the materials  which were available for that purpose.

Recent heavy rains in the early part of 1941 had resulted in several aeroplanes crashing on landing at the airport, and this necessitated a great amount of urgent repair work. To meet this, a large batch of additional local men were put to work to get the ground into trim. Big extensions had been made to the landing field during the winter, many buildings and hedges in the district having been flattened, and many farmers having to evacuate to other parts of the Island.

Other works which had been put in hand included the erection of huts as well as look-out posts on all the head-lands, a high radio mast at Trinity which was presumed to be in connection with radio location apparatus, and sundry other erections which had something to do with radio near St. Martin's Arsenal. Many of the local builders had had to undertake some of this particular work, though in each instance it was nominally work of a non-military character. For day after day, the R.A.F. hammered targets in the neighbourhood, making the very Island vibrate.

The studied politeness of the German troops of all grades, and the high wages and good conditions which those working for them received, combined with some dissatisfaction with the States, resulted in increasing numbers of the population developing pro-German tendencies. Some went so far as to threaten — and even to carry out the threat — of going to the Commandant with their complain when they had what they thought was a grievance. These complaints were usually treated considerately by the German Authorities, and the more-short-sighted saw in this proof of the justice which might be expected if  Germany won the war. They did not take into account that the generosity of wages only meant to Germany the printing of a few more Occupation Marks with which to flood the occupied territories, with consequent super-inflation; the burden of which would have to be borne not by Germany, but by the occupied territories themselves when the day of reckoning came.