The Liberation Trail unveiled – Celebrating 80 Years of Freedom in Guernsey

The commemorative Liberation Trail winds through the heart of St. Peter Port, revealing the island’s journey from wartime hardship to hope, resilience, and recovery. Through nine unique displays, located at key cultural and historical sites, those undertaking the trail can explore personal stories, historical artifacts and rarely seen photographs that bring the era vividly to life.

The Liberation Trail has been made possible through a collaboration between Guernsey Museum, Island Archives, the Guille-Allès Library, the Priaulx Library, Guernsey Arts, the Royal Court, and local historian Marco Tersigni, who together have crafted a compelling tribute to Guernsey’s wartime experience.

To help guide the journey, an illustrated Liberation Trail map highlights each of the nine display locations around St. Peter Port. Each stop on the trail stands alone, meaning trail participants can begin their journey wherever they choose and experience it at their own pace.

The Liberation Timeline - George Crossan Gallery, Market Building 10th April - 23rd June
A fascinating and comprehensive timeline of the German Occupation. From the horror of invasion, through the hardships of Occupation, to the joy of Liberation. Visitors can explore newspaper extracts, historical documents, photographs, images of museum objects and much more. This is an ideal starting point for visitors to explore The Liberation Trail.

Island Memories Project: Liberation 80 - Guernsey Museum Foyer Display 28th March - 5th October
Guernsey Museum’s new oral history archive aims to preserve islanders’ memories for future generations. This display shares clips from the project’s first phase of interviews alongside items from the era. The stories recorded cover a full range of emotions and highlight the uniquely challenging period in Guernsey’s history.

Dear Unknown Friend - Greenhouse Gallery, Guernsey Museum 28th March - 22nd June
A focus on the experiences and challenges surrounding the evacuation of islanders. An exhibition of the creative interpretations of a special selection of artists using materials kindly provided by Island Archives and Guernsey Museums, to give a voice to those who lived during the evacuation and tell their stories.
Surrender, Liberation and Recovery - The German Story - Guernsey Museum Terrace 28th April - 23rd June
What happened to the German Forces during the surrender and Liberation of Guernsey? Discover what role the German soldiers had to play in the recovery of the island.

Papers, Please - Island Archives 14th April - 23rd June
What documents would you carry on the streets of Occupied Guernsey? The administration of Occupation created thousands of permits, licenses and letters. Step back in time to 1941 to an imagined Douzenier’s office when the order for a ‘photographic census’ of the population creates a mountain of paperwork for the clerks.

A Dark Chapter – Guille-Allès Library 14th April - 23rd June
In 1942, Hitler ordered that almost 2,500 Channel Islanders were to be deported to internment camps in Europe. A Dark Chapter recounts the harrowing story of the trauma of the Deportation, life in the camps, and the resilience of those who endured. It also reveals the little-known story of the Library during the Occupation, and the librarian who found himself among those deported.

Past And Present: 80 Years of Freedom Trail – Guernsey Visitor Information Centre, Market Square 8th May - 29th August
Every year on 9 May, Guernsey commemorates Liberation Day - the end of the German Occupation. But how did the people of the island celebrate on the day itself in 1945? In partnership with Guernsey Past and Present, this display reveals what you would have seen in various locations around St Peter Port 80 years ago.

Liberation: Re-Occupation & Recovery - Priaulx Library 15th April - 16th June
Guernsey’s story from the German surrender of the Channel Islands, through British military rule, to the resumption of civil government. Follow the island’s journey from the joy of Liberation into the economic austerity and political renewal essential for Guernsey’s recovery from Occupation.

The War is Over - Grand Hall, Royal Court
15 April – 16 June
At around 10am on 8th May 1945, Liberation commenced when Korvetten Kapitain Reich told the Bailiff of Guernsey “The war is over”. At midday, a special sitting of the States of Guernsey went on to explain what the people of Guernsey could do to enjoy their new freedom. These displays cover the handover of power, the German surrender, and the Royal Court at this most poignant time in the island’s history.
In addition to the nine points on the trail, the German Naval Signals Headquarters Bunker in St Jacques is open until 2nd November. As part of the Liberation 80 celebrations, the interpretation and information panels in this fascinating and immersive site have been redesigned, updated and renewed.

Spokespeople

Helen Glencross, Head of Heritage Services, said:

"To mark and celebrate the 80th anniversary of Liberation, we are proud to use our collections to share powerful and unique stories from this important period in history. We have created two displays at Guernsey Museum at Candie, as well as a detailed timeline in the George Crossan Gallery in the Market building which guides visitors through the key dates of the Occupation, from 1940 to 1945. We are deeply grateful to all our partners who have contributed to the displays for the Liberation Trail. It is a truly wonderful way to honour and reflect on this significant anniversary."

Caitlyn Le Patourel, Archives Assistant, Island Archives, said:

“It has been an honour to lead on Island Archives’ 80th Liberation Day display Papers, Please. With help from my colleagues and the community, this is the most ambitious display the Island Archives has produced to date. Eighty years on, I hope that these exhibitions will allow us to pause and reflect on the Liberation and freedom we have today, and what it meant to the people back then.”

Steve Foote, Chief Executive, Priaulx Library, said:

“At the Priaulx Library, we are delighted to extend our normal exhibition season with a new exhibition Liberation: Re-Occupation and Recovery which celebrates all the efforts to get the island back on its feet following Liberation Day and throughout the summer of 1945.”

Steve Foote, Blue Ormer Publishing, said of Past & Present:

“The trail also marks the launch of Marco Tersigni and Simon Hamon’s new book Liberated Guernsey Past & Present - a selection of photos from which will be featured on a trail around St Peter Port, starting at the Visitor Information Centre in Market Square.”

Russ Fossey, Head of Arts Development, Guernsey Arts, said:

“Dear Unknown Friend is an exhibition curated by Guernsey Arts, in our Greenhouse Gallery at Guernsey Museums, where thirteen local artists have responded wonderfully to archive material, interpreting the story of evacuees. We thank the artists for their thought-provoking and moving artworks. Thanks also to Island Archives, the Priaulx Library and Guernsey Museums for advising and loaning the archive material. And to everyone for their enthusiasm and passion for the project.”

Adam Bayfield, Head of Marketing & Customer Services, Guille- Allès Library, said:

“We’re honoured to be partnering with so many like-minded organisations on this very special exhibition to mark Liberation 80. At the Guile- Allès Library we’re focusing on the experience of the Deportees – the thousands of Channel Islanders who were deported to internment camps in Europe. It’s one of the darkest chapters in the Occupation story, yet it’s inspiring to discover the resilience of the Deportees in making a life for themselves in the camps, and their determination to endure and to one day come home. It’s a privilege to be able to share their story at the Library, and we hope visitors will find it a meaningful and thought-provoking part of the wider Liberation Trail.”

Simon Hamon, Deputy Greffier, said:

“The War is Over is a display of photographs and documents detailing the end of the German Occupation and the transition of power back to the people of Guernsey. It documents the pivotal role the Royal Court played in those historic proceedings.”