CHAPTER ONE (SECTION 2) The Occupation A special sitting of the States was called during the day, at which the terms offered were discussed and accepted. Despite the time limit fixed for the expiration of this ultimatum, German troops had already landed by air and were in control of the telegraph and radio transmitting apparatus before 5.0 p.m. on July 1st — in fact, when the workmen arrived at the airport to paint the white cross remanded in the terms of surrender, they were surprised to find German planes already on the ground. A German book [Dr. Hermann Hindt, in a book compiled by Sonderheuhrer Hans Auerboch, Paris.] purported to give its readers the actual facts regarding the occupation of the Island. Obviously, this is the story from their own side, but, nonetheless, it will have a certain amount of interest even to the other side. It has as its headline the following words: HOW A LIEUTENANT TOOK THE ISLAND OF JERSEY. This volume contains the story as based on the German writer's account. It had been announced by the German radio on the evening of the first day of July, 1940, that the entire group of the Channel Islands had been occupied by the German Airforce, and this by a bold but somewhat simple type of strategy. The writer states that it is interesting to record the fact of the occupation. Not only does he say this, but he maintains that at a later date that part of the German war effort will be of real interest, inasmuch as it was through this particular stroke that for the first time British territory was occupied by his country's armed forces. He then proceeds to indicate that from occupied Normandy in Northern France — from both Cape de la Hague and Cape Cartaret — the Channel Islands appear as "flat grey strips" lying between the horizon and the sea, and strips which altogether vanish to the onlooker, in certain types of weather. Then he refers to the coastguard telescopes which were continually turned in their direction —  for here, in these small islands, was England — here was the last bastion facing Europe after that country had been driven from the Continent. It was obvious then that the High Command should be very interested in this collection of Islands, and the latter were continually the subject of German air reconnaissance. Then Headquarters ultimately were intrigued as to what was happening therein, as hearsay had it that the Island had been completely deserted by its inhabitants. It was at this point that a special reconnaissance was ordered, and this to establish precisely the actual state of affairs therein. A certain German Lieutenant — Kern by name — flew over the territory for this precise purpose. What he saw were the Island of Guernsey replete with its glasshouses — the rocky, seemingly inhospitable Island of Alderney — the diminutive Island of Sark — and then his attention was turned to the largest of the group, the Island of Jersey. This latter was his main objective, and he flew over the beaches and the Island's harbours, and over the small estates and villages, until he reached the Island's principal town of St. Helier. On first inspection from the air, the streets appeared to be almost deserted of people, and the town really looked as if dead. A much closer survey, however, indicated that people were moving about, for the inhabitants were seen gazing curiously up in the Lieutenant's direction. From this observation Kern was convinced that after all there was certainly some life in the Island. Other things, of course, appealed to this officer's imagination, particularly the fact there appeared to be no evidence of active defence in the Island, and this was a vital item of information for subsequent report to his General. With this data to his credit, Kern proceeded to return to his base for report, and on his way back he met three similar machines from a sister squadron of the German Airforce. These machines were heading for Guernsey, and they, as he gleaned afterwards, occupied the Island. It became obvious to the Germans that shortly the English had, as it were, "smelt a rat", for two of their Blemheims appeared on the Channel scene, meeting the three German Dorniers close to Guernsey. The German Lieutenant, a man by the name of Forster, was credited by the German narrator with having been able to shoot down both of the English planes from his own reconnaissance machine. The information which Kern was able to impart to his General was such that the latter decided immediately to call on Jersey to capitulate. The General squadron received the surrender summons by the General for action at two o'clock in the morning, and in all there were three summons each for Jersey and Alderney, all couched in precisely the same wording. In view of the fact that this was a matter of parley, the usual coloured pouch could not be employed — so new pouches were prepared, and these had white pendants attached. The latter had been cut out of the bed linen which had belonged to the Captain of the French squadron whose vacated headquarters had been taken over by the German squadron. Two machines were directed to deal with the summons, and when they began their mission it was still quite dark. One of the machines was destined for Alderney, and the other for Jersey. Lieutenant Kern was in the latter. The Island was duly reached in the early hours of the morning. Once more a German plane droned over the Island of Jersey. Merely a handful of the inhabitants were up at the time. Nonetheless, the pouch which contained the summons was seen by someone on the Island. It was found, and then taken to the Island Authorities. Later on it was recounted in Jersey how very much surprised the dreamy town of St. Helier had been to be given such an early visit by the Germans. Actually, it was a hotel porter who had found the letter which was addressed to the Civil Governor of the Island, and he immediately conveyed it to the Island's Bailiff (he being the principal official, directly under the Crown). The two planes immediately returned to their base after completing their prime mission — the dropping of the notes, their General wishing to await the arranged signs of the Island's surrender. The writer pictures the tense feeling of the airmen during the hours of waiting. In their way of thinking there could be no peace of mind until their undertaking had been brought to a successful ending. In his notes to the two Islands the General had given instructions that white flags should be openly displayed as a sign of capitulation. During this time, all sorts of wild rumours were running through the various branches of the German services. One of these had it that an English war vessel was supposed to have appeared in the waters round Jersey Island. Lieutenant Kern was ordered back so that he might be able to confirm — or otherwise — the alleged incident. Contrary to the rumour, he arrived on the scene without seeing anything suggestive of what had been said, the Island lying there just as quietly as he had seen it on the previous day. This picture of peace and quietness as his machine flew low over the various parts of Jersey gave the Lieutenant a notion. Originally, he had been commissioned to bring back to his superior officer accurate information about Jersey, and as he headed for the airport — which was beautifully situated, and with lovely white  buildings — he resolved what he should do without any further delay — in other words, he decided to take the Island there and then. Naturally, there were problems to face. Peacefulness such as this might indicate underlying difficulties — the whole area might be dangerously mined, for one of them. Kern had given the order to make a landing, but he did not overlook the feelings of his men. A mined field is not the ideal landing ground. And there may be hidden defences. Both mines and concealed defences would present insuperable difficulties. But, on the other hand, there may be neither mines nor hidden defences — in which case the problem was quite easy. And if successfully landed, this indeed would be the first landing by Germans on British territory. This was the thought which trilled them as they sped forward.