On April 18, 1947 they senselessly tried to destroy the entire island. Using 9,000 depth charges,
4000 torpedo heads and over 91,000 shells, 6,800 tons of explosives in all, they created the biggest
non-nuclear single detonation in history. The explosives were stacked in the tunnel of the old
submarine shelter and at 1:00 PM were released. The enormous explosion was followed by a large,
volcanic- type eruption of fire, soil and rock which shot into the sky creating a mushroom cloud over
nine kilometers high.
4000 torpedo heads and over 91,000 shells, 6,800 tons of explosives in all, they created the biggest
non-nuclear single detonation in history. The explosives were stacked in the tunnel of the old
submarine shelter and at 1:00 PM were released. The enormous explosion was followed by a large,
volcanic- type eruption of fire, soil and rock which shot into the sky creating a mushroom cloud over
nine kilometers high.
The violent blows shook the main island several miles down to its base and changed its shape
permanently. To their surprise, they failed to utterly destroy the island, and it remained a military
restricted area for the British Air Force who used the area as a training ground. In 1948, the
devastated and displaced islanders who once called the island their home begged for help from the
United Nations, the Pope, and the British House of Commons, where Professor Savory, a member
of the British Parliament, spoke repeatedly about 'what was happening out there in the sea' bringing
the attention of his fellow members to 'the horrifying picture of senseless desolation' as he called it in
a speech of July 26, 1950. It seemed hopeless.
permanently. To their surprise, they failed to utterly destroy the island, and it remained a military
restricted area for the British Air Force who used the area as a training ground. In 1948, the
devastated and displaced islanders who once called the island their home begged for help from the
United Nations, the Pope, and the British House of Commons, where Professor Savory, a member
of the British Parliament, spoke repeatedly about 'what was happening out there in the sea' bringing
the attention of his fellow members to 'the horrifying picture of senseless desolation' as he called it in
a speech of July 26, 1950. It seemed hopeless.
Then, on December 20, 1950, two Heidelberg students occupied the
island and hoisted the German flag and the flag of Helgoland, resulting
in news coverage which elicited support for saving the island from
further ecological disaster and irrational destruction. Finally, in 1951,
the German Bundestag demanded the release of the island which was
given in March, 1952. Helgoland was Germany's again. But the
German authorities faced the immense task of clearing vast amounts
of undetonated ammunition and rebuilding the homes and landscape
before it could be resettled. The natives were finally allowed to go
home to what remained of their island. (click left)
island and hoisted the German flag and the flag of Helgoland, resulting
in news coverage which elicited support for saving the island from
further ecological disaster and irrational destruction. Finally, in 1951,
the German Bundestag demanded the release of the island which was
given in March, 1952. Helgoland was Germany's again. But the
German authorities faced the immense task of clearing vast amounts
of undetonated ammunition and rebuilding the homes and landscape
before it could be resettled. The natives were finally allowed to go
home to what remained of their island. (click left)
During World War Two, the British set their sights on
the island early on, as the 1936 wire service photo
(below left) indicates. On September 29, 1939, six
British planes attacked a German naval squadron near
Heligoland. More importantly, the very first bomb the
British dropped on German soil was on Helgoland
on December 3, 1939, the British claiming to the
public it was "by mistake." A few days later, on
December 14, 1939, twelve RAF bombers attacked
German ships in Helgoland, now claiming it was a
heavily fortified "fortress". Note the 1936 and 1939
wire service photos below and how the vague rationale
behind the destruction escalated from a "rumor" in
1936 to a justification (after the fact) in 1939. (click)
the island early on, as the 1936 wire service photo
(below left) indicates. On September 29, 1939, six
British planes attacked a German naval squadron near
Heligoland. More importantly, the very first bomb the
British dropped on German soil was on Helgoland
on December 3, 1939, the British claiming to the
public it was "by mistake." A few days later, on
December 14, 1939, twelve RAF bombers attacked
German ships in Helgoland, now claiming it was a
heavily fortified "fortress". Note the 1936 and 1939
wire service photos below and how the vague rationale
behind the destruction escalated from a "rumor" in
1936 to a justification (after the fact) in 1939. (click)
But it was not this event that managed to destroy several species of sea life, birds and insects unique
to the island and destroy prehistoric artifacts. In fact, it was not even in wartime, but after war's end,
from 1945 to 1952, while Germany was frantically trying to rebuild from the war's bombing
devastation, the British decided to use the islands as a bombing range.
to the island and destroy prehistoric artifacts. In fact, it was not even in wartime, but after war's end,
from 1945 to 1952, while Germany was frantically trying to rebuild from the war's bombing
devastation, the British decided to use the islands as a bombing range.
| To Kill an Island |
1860
1899
1945
1947
On December 19, 1939, 12 out of 24 RAF Wellington
bombers were shot down in an aerial fight off of
Helgoland. The civilians were determined to remain on
their island.
bombers were shot down in an aerial fight off of
Helgoland. The civilians were determined to remain on
their island.
On October 15, 1944, the British again bombed the
island, and on April 18, 1945, one of their infamous
1,000 bomber raids rained death and destruction. The
surviving islanders who had hidden in rock shelters
were evacuated the next day.
island, and on April 18, 1945, one of their infamous
1,000 bomber raids rained death and destruction. The
surviving islanders who had hidden in rock shelters
were evacuated the next day.
It is believed that Helgoland was a holy place to the ancient Frisians where they paid homage to
Fosetes, the God of justice. In 697 A.D., when Radbod, the last Frisian king, was defeated by the
Franks, he withdrew to the island and Christianity was introduced. In 1231, Helgoland belonged to
Danish king Waldemar II, and sovereignty of the island changed several times between Denmark and
the Duchy of Schleswig with a short marriage to Hanseatic Hamburg (famous pirate Claus
Stoertebecker once used the island for a base camp) until 1714, when it remained with Denmark until
the English took it by force in 1807 during the Napoleonic war. In 1890, England ceded it to
Germany in return for rights to Wituland and Sansibar in Africa.
Fosetes, the God of justice. In 697 A.D., when Radbod, the last Frisian king, was defeated by the
Franks, he withdrew to the island and Christianity was introduced. In 1231, Helgoland belonged to
Danish king Waldemar II, and sovereignty of the island changed several times between Denmark and
the Duchy of Schleswig with a short marriage to Hanseatic Hamburg (famous pirate Claus
Stoertebecker once used the island for a base camp) until 1714, when it remained with Denmark until
the English took it by force in 1807 during the Napoleonic war. In 1890, England ceded it to
Germany in return for rights to Wituland and Sansibar in Africa.
In 1807, the British captured Helgoland for the English crown. Cut off from normal trade by
Napoleon's blockade, Britain used the island's resources to feed the British public. Once the war was
over, the markets for fish was lost and so was the island's economy, until a boat builder named Jacob
Siemens established a sea-side resort on the island for tourists, providing a new source of income.
After England ceded the island to Germany in July 1890, a naval base was created on the island. In
1914, when World War I broke out, the new fortress and a large harbor were completed, and it
provided extra prosperity to the natives. During the war the entire population was moved to the
mainland, but returned in 1918. The fortress Helgoland was demolished per dictates of Versailles.
Napoleon's blockade, Britain used the island's resources to feed the British public. Once the war was
over, the markets for fish was lost and so was the island's economy, until a boat builder named Jacob
Siemens established a sea-side resort on the island for tourists, providing a new source of income.
After England ceded the island to Germany in July 1890, a naval base was created on the island. In
1914, when World War I broke out, the new fortress and a large harbor were completed, and it
provided extra prosperity to the natives. During the war the entire population was moved to the
mainland, but returned in 1918. The fortress Helgoland was demolished per dictates of Versailles.
In 1425, companies from Denmark, the Low Countries, and Hamburg and Bremen operated on
Helgoland for the large quantities of herring, but the fish swam away in the early 1500s and the island
faced an era of epidemics around 1550. The people faced starvation for some time, and beginning
then, ‘Witte Cliff’ (white cliff) was broken down bit by bit and sold as chalk. The entire white rock
disappeared, as did the connecting strip while a violent storm pounded the island in 1721. By then
fishing was again the main occupation.
Helgoland for the large quantities of herring, but the fish swam away in the early 1500s and the island
faced an era of epidemics around 1550. The people faced starvation for some time, and beginning
then, ‘Witte Cliff’ (white cliff) was broken down bit by bit and sold as chalk. The entire white rock
disappeared, as did the connecting strip while a violent storm pounded the island in 1721. By then
fishing was again the main occupation.
Roman historian Tacitus called the rock formations on Helgoland, an island in the North Sea, "the
columns of Hercules". Originally, its large red rock had a mate of white limestone. They stood about
a mile apart and were connected by a strip of sand and stones, while another much lower sandy
island called ‘Hallem’ stretched below, protected by the ‘Witte Cliff’ against raging north west storms.
columns of Hercules". Originally, its large red rock had a mate of white limestone. They stood about
a mile apart and were connected by a strip of sand and stones, while another much lower sandy
island called ‘Hallem’ stretched below, protected by the ‘Witte Cliff’ against raging north west storms.
After the British bombing, almost nothing was left
standing, neither home nor farm, nor treasured
lighthouse, nor the 1686 church which was built with
the support of the Danish King Christian V. (its altar
had been lighted by two candelabras, inscribed with:
"Present of his majesty the King Gustav Adolph IV of
Sweden"). The place where young Hoffmann V.
Fallersleben stayed and wrote Germany's present
national anthem in 1841 was no more the same. The
entire population of Helgoland had become refugees
and were spread over 60 different villages and towns,
waiting for a return to their island home.
standing, neither home nor farm, nor treasured
lighthouse, nor the 1686 church which was built with
the support of the Danish King Christian V. (its altar
had been lighted by two candelabras, inscribed with:
"Present of his majesty the King Gustav Adolph IV of
Sweden"). The place where young Hoffmann V.
Fallersleben stayed and wrote Germany's present
national anthem in 1841 was no more the same. The
entire population of Helgoland had become refugees
and were spread over 60 different villages and towns,
waiting for a return to their island home.