An expert review of evidence has sought to give the most accurate possible assessment of how many prisoners and labourers died on Alderney between 1941 to 1945
Today (22 May 2024), the United Kingdom’s Post Holocaust Issues Envoy, Lord Eric Pickles, announced the findings of the review of the evidence into the number of prisoners who died in the Channel Island of Alderney during the Nazi occupation.
The review analyses the pre-existing evidence around the number of people who died in Alderney during the Nazi occupation, aiming to dispel conspiracy theories and provide the most accurate figure possible of those who lost their lives on the island.
The review, commissioned by Lord Pickles, draws on the knowledge and experience of a team of eleven independent and internationally recognised experts.
The extensive research conducted by the panel to determine the truth around the numbers of deaths on Alderney is not just crucial for bringing justice for those who died, but in ensuring that this period of history, and the Holocaust, is remembered fully and accurately.
Lord (Eric) Pickles, UK Special Envoy on Post Holocaust Issues said:
While today Alderney is a peaceful island in the English Channel, famous for its beauty, tranquillity, and the welcome of its residents, the story was vastly different between 1941 to 1945 when the island was under Nazi occupation.
During this time, crimes were committed against forced and slave labourers, transported from countries across Europe and brought to Alderney to construct fortifications as part of the German war effort.
Housed in camps that shared many of the traits of those in mainland Europe, these labourers were subject to atrocious living and working conditions, and, in some cases, executions.
The team’s calculation of the minimum number of prisoners or labourers sent to Alderney throughout the German occupation stands between 7,608 and 7,812 people.
Death figures calculated after Alderney was liberated by the British originally suggested that 389 people died as a result of this ill-treatment.
Having initiated a review of the mortality rate, the Alderney Expert Review Panel is confident that the number of deaths in Alderney is unlikely to have exceeded 1,134 people, with a more likely range of deaths being between 641 and 1,027.
The review panel has concluded that there is no evidence that many thousands of victims died, and that claims Alderney constituted a ‘mini-Auschwitz’ are unsubstantiated.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE said:
Additional research undertaken by Anthony Glees finds that war crimes investigations by Captain Theodore Pantcheff and others were wholly serious in intent.
The case was handed to the Russians because the majority of victims were Soviet citizens; in exchange, the British were given and brought to justice the Germans who murdered British servicemen in Stalag Luft III during ‘the Great Escape.’
The Soviet Union did not follow up the Alderney case and were thus responsible for the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice, causing much anger among members of the British government.
Dr Paul Sanders said:
Dr Gilly Carr said:
Background
The review was announced in July 2023 and was chaired by Dr Paul Sanders (NEOMA Business School, Reims, France) and supported by: