Guernsey’s Liberation Day: Everything you need to know

On 28 June 1940, the Luftwaffe bombed Jersey and Guernsey, which were both undefended.

44 people were killed, and two days later the Germans took control of Guernsey.

Five years later, on 8 May 1945, people in Guernsey and across the Channel Islands heard the war was over. The following day Guernsey was liberated from Nazi rule.

75 years on, there had been big plans to celebrate the important anniversary, but the coronavirus pandemic radically reshaped these.

All is not lost, though, as virtual events will be going on across the island.

Here is how to get involved...

You can watch all of these events on Guernsey’s Liberation Facebook page or their website.

  • 9.00am - Sounding of the siren at Victoria Tower

  • 9.30am - Message from Guernsey’s Bailiff, Richard Collas

  • 10.50am - Laying of the wreath by the Bailiff

  • 11.00am - Church service led by the Very Reverend Tim Barker, Dean of Guernsey

  • 12.05pm - ‘Children of the Occupation’ interviews to be played

  • 12:20pm - Interview with veteran who helped liberate Guernsey

  • 1.30pm - Historian Dan Snow talks about Government House and the occupation

  • 2.00pm - A message from Her Majesty the Queen

  • 2.30pm - Afternoon tea party at home

  • 3.00pm - Sofa Sing-Along - classic wartime songs can be found here

  • 4.30pm - A reading from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book by co-author

  • 5.00pm - An interview with Dan Snow and His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governer, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder KBE, CB.

Islanders are being encouraged to get involved at home, from having tea parties to singing along to wartime classics.

  • Send videos and pictures to us at channelnews@itv.com or via our Facebook page

You can share your celebrations on social media by tagging #liberate75together.

Sark, which was liberated a day after the other islands, will be holdingstay-at-home street parties on 10 May.