September/October 2010

Jersey War Tunnels
New experiences at Jersey War Tunnels to mark the 65th Anniversary of Liberation
Jersey War Tunnels is a permanent
reminder of the five dark years of
German Occupation, detailing a true
and accurate account of the period
through the experiences of the people
who were there.
New galleries for 2010
In addition to the ‘Captive Island’
exhibition the tunnel complex, formerly
known as Höhlgangsanlage 8 (Ho8),
now plays host to two new experiences
which look at the Occupation in a new
light, paying particular attention to the
plight of individuals by detailing how
decisions made by the Island, UK and
German administrations drastically
affected the course of this period for
the residents struggling to come to
terms with the adverse conditions
of Occupation.
‘Co-operation and Resistance’ is a
hard-hitting experience that focuses
the mind on the countless moral
dilemmas faced. You are placed in the
shoes of Islanders and politicians as
you are asked to make up your own
mind about the decisions, views and
perceptions that could carry
devastating consequences.
‘Liberation’ begins by immersing the
visitor into the desperation and
confusion of the last months of
Occupation, being followed by the
exhilaration and majesty of Liberation
Day on 9 May 1945, particularly
pertinent this year as the Island
celebrates the 65th Anniversary. Moving
out of this gallery the visitor is then taken
into a reflective space detailing the days
and months after Liberation as Islanders
began to piece together the lives that
they had left behind five years previously.
The tunnel complex of Ho8, which took
almost three years to build, was
designed as an armaments workshop
and bomb proof barracks. It was
excavated by forced and slave labourers
from all over Europe, some of whom died
from the terrible hardship they were
made to endure.
Towards the end of 1943, amid fears of
an Allied invasion of Europe, Ho8 was
converted into a casualty receiving
station or underground hospital; its
rooms were transformed into wards to
accommodate up to 500 casualties and
included a fully equipped operating
theatre. The invasion never occurred, so
the tunnel complex was never used for
this purpose.
Jersey War Tunnels is more than
a chronicle of life under occupation.
Above the tunnels, the evocative
landscape of the Garden of Reflection is
a permanent reminder of the Jersey men
and women who died as a direct
consequence of the Occupation;
each person is commemorated by
a steel plaque set into the lawns
and flower-beds.
Adjacent to Ho8 is the War Trail,
a series of pathways through an antiaircraft
battery which was strategically
located to protect the eastern approach
to the airport. You can walk amongst the
crawl trenches, troop shelters and gun
positions that formed the perimeter
defences of this unique site.
The Garden of Reflection and War Trail
are free to visit along with the Visitor
Centre, which contains the Shop and
the Café.
Complementing the Garden of
Reflection is a sculpture by
internationally renowned artist, Paul de
Monchaux. Entitled ‘Silence’, it was
commissioned to commemorate the
suffering endured by forced and slave
labourers who worked on the
construction of the Ho8 complex and
serves as a powerful reminder of the
German Occupation of Jersey.
To further enhance your visit, Jersey War
Tunnels now offer audio guide tours, the
first of their kind in Jersey. The key
feature of the handheld audio devices,
which are available in English, French
and German, are the interactive buttons
that allow users to make a series of
ethical judgments as they walk around,
putting themselves in the shoes of those
Occupied and forced to make a number
of life changing decisions. Jersey War
Tunnels is a unique attraction that helps
you get to the heart of the island’s
wartime experience and learn about the
true story of the Occupation.
For more information, special events
and exhibition news visit
www.jerseywartunnels.com
Jersey War Tunnels
Les Charrières Malorey, St Lawrence
Telephone: +44 (0) 1534 860808
Facsimile: +44 (0) 1534 860886
Email: info@jerseywartunnels.com
Open daily 1 March – 28 November 2010,
10.00am – 6.00pm
(last admission 4.30pm)
Adults: £10.50
Seniors: £9.50
Students: £7.50
Children: £6.50 *
* These prices and dates are subject to change in 2011.
Two
sides to
every story.
Resistance.
Just one of the NEW
experiences for 2010.
Discover the true story of the German Occupation
of Jersey at the award-winning attraction where
history runs deep!
jerseywartunnels.com
1 March - 28 November 2010 • 10.00am - 6.00pm daily • Last admission to main exhibition 4.30pm
Jersey War Tunnels, Les Charrières Malorey, St Lawrence, Jersey. Telephone +44 (0)1534 860808