Islands at War

About Islands at War

A Podcast about the occupation of the Channel Islands by German forces 1940 to 1945. Focusing on personal experiences of those that lived through it using diaries and our own research. Social, practical and military aspects of the occupation of the Channel Islands. Join Keith Pengelley and Nick Le Huray as they talk you through the occupation month by month. Oh and we drop our own family stories in as well. We will talk you through the occupation as it happened. Questions welcome at occupied@gnetradio.com

Publisher

Islands At War

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Feb 2024

Latest episode

7 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

80 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Sept 2026

   AUGUST 1944 PART 2! State of the islands, rising tension, things go from bad to worse!

   As August 1944 unfolded, residents of the Channel Islands found themselves in a precarious situation, balancing between hope and despair as they awaited the Allies' arrival. This month’s episode of Islands at War dives deep into the daily lives and concerns of the islanders, as narrated through various diaries and first hand accounts. A Return from Silence It’s been a while since our last episode, and in that time, both Keith and Nick have been busy. From tour guiding to research, they’ve gat...

2. 

   6 Jul 2026

   AUGUST 1944 PART 1 - FUGATIVE ON THE RUN, BARON HANS MAX VON AUFSESS, BATTLE FOR SAINT MALO

   In this episode we introduce a new diary, Baron Hans Max Baron von und zu Aufsess, you can get his diaries here. His diary chronicles in detail his dealings with the civilian population, his ‘parishioners’ as he called them, and with the leading island politicians in Jersey and Guernsey. There were disagreements and wrangles but by and large Aufsess managed to oversee an occupation considerably less oppressive than any other in Europe. The Escape of Graham Buckingham. One of the most grippin...

3. 

   22 Jun 2026

   JULY 1944 - THE BLOCKADE TIGHTENS! RESISTANCE, DESPAIR, AND DANGER

   The episode proceeds from the fourth anniversary of occupation and post–D-Day hope fading into an anxious wait, through tightening blockades, naval and air activity around the islands, shifting German behaviour, and the psychological toll on civilians. It closes with a preview of August 1944 (notably Saint-Malo) and contemporary updates on Nick’s work and community projects. Key Discussion Points Four Years of Occupation and a Shift in Mood (Early July 1944) The occupation’s grim milestone: f...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

14 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

55

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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