In 1940 Hitler’s legions swept rapidly and violently through France, andon12Junethe swastika, that hated symbol of Nazi Germany, was flown from public buildings in Paris. With the fall of the rest of France imminent, the German occupation of the Channel Islands also became inevitable.

There was voluntary evacuation to Britain of the civilian population of the islands and about 34,500 people departed, leaving a population of some 64,000. In Alderney the evacuation was so thorough that only 7 people remained out of a population of 1,432. At the same time the British Government demilitarised the islands by withdrawing British troops. The Jersey Militia subsequently became the 11th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. The Guernsey Militia had previously been disbanded to release hundreds of men to volunteer for H.M. forces.

En 1940, les armées d’Hitler s’avancèrent rapidement à travers la France et le 12 juin, la croix gammée, symbole odieux de l'Allemagne Nazie, flottait sur Paris. Avec la chute imminente du reste de la France, l'occupation allemande des Iles Anglo-Normandes devenait inévitable. Une partie de la population civile fut évacuée en Grande-Bretagne (env. 34.500 personnes) en laissant près de 64.000 derrière eux. Les îles furent aussi démilitarisées par le retrait des troupes britanniques.