Alderney considers conservation status for Nazi camps

Former Nazi camps in the Channel Islands could soon be given conservation status, the President of the States of Alderney has confirmed.

William Tate has said he would also like to create a memorial to honor the “new” people identified as having suffered torture and murder at the hands of Hitler’s regime on British soil.

Mr Tate said there were already information plaques at all four sites.

Referring to the report, Mr Tate described a “profound sense of relief” that tens of thousands of prisoners had not died, as “confirmed by the evidence”.

He said he also felt “sadness” that people had lost their lives without them knowing it, but added that these people could now be remembered.

“It’s so important that we never forget it.”

He said: “I think what we can do in the future is make better use of technology. We have now put up information boards in the three remaining camps. We will, I “I hope to place the camps in the conservation area to allow some degree of protection.”

Mr Tate spoke of a desire to create a new memorial in recognition of the report, adding: “It could be the names of all the victims… a new place where people can go and reflect.”

“What we are always committed to as a community is continuing to improve the way we deliver information because it is part of our history and if you want to understand Alderney you have to understand it all.”

Earlier at a press conference he said the states would work with Lord Pickles on memorials, calling the panel’s support “invaluable”.

He said Mr Tate had been “absolutely excellent” throughout the process, while also referring to “some” people being obstructive.

“I was surprised by the level of anger and anguish and I think that draws a line,” he added.

The panel had been “in discussions” with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), he added, about its “charter on site preservation”.

“We want to work closely with the States of Alderney to mark the sites… install exhibits there… to ensure that the dead and those who suffered are remembered.”

Jurat Colin Partridge OBE, – the only member of the panel from Alderney – said he felt privileged to have been part of the project and hoped the report would serve as a “basis for future memorialization”.

He said he “liked to believe” there was a “collective will” on the island to honor workers and end “acrimonious debates and contrary opinions”.

“Some people wonder why are we looking so far back… well, I believe we need to create a marker on which we can base our future appreciation and memorialization.”

He suggested a “book with names, a sort of register” to remember workers.

“It would be really good for the world to know that there is a record here of these people who died far from their own country and their families and that the descendants of these workers could perhaps come and learn a little bit more about the story and how they died.

Panel member and IHRA representative Dr Gilly Carr said the information plaques at the sites were an “important start”, and also referred to the Occupied Alderney website, launched as part of the review, which would “continue to be updated with stories.” “.

She referred to a visit to Alderney in 2021, during which eight recommendations were delivered to Alderney leaders.

Mr Tate said their commemoration work would be a “moving celebration” as the Building and Development Control Committee examined the heritage status of Nazi camp sites.

He thanked the panel for their “tireless” service, and said they were “getting to the root of what makes Alderney the place it is”.

Following their visit in 2019, the IHRA observed that Lager Norderney was “used as a holiday campsite in Alderney”, that Lager Borkum was “at the entrance to the road leading to the tip of the island, while Lager Helgoland “had a house built there”.

He said the eight recommendations were intended to “help safeguard the case in a way that is sensitive and empathetic to the Alderney community”.

Alderney States Member Alex Snowdon said he would be “interested to understand a little more” about the impact the report’s findings could have on memorials and education.

“I think it is also very important that we highlight the presence of information signs at the sites,” he said.

“In my opinion, the States of Alderney have been quite proactive in ensuring that the information is available.”

Mr Snowdon asked why the launch of the report had not taken place in Alderney, adding: “It would have been nice to have some sort of presentation in Alderney as well as questions and answers for the people of Alderney.”

He said such an event would be “valuable” in the future.

Additional reporting by Robert Hall.