On July 1st 1940, Nazi Germany occupied Jersey and the Channel Islands, after the British government decided that they were of no strategic importance and would not be defended. During the 5 years of occupation, the Germans tried to make of the Channel Islands and impenetrable fortress, building a set of fortifications that are still scattered around the islands today. The occupation ended on May the 9th 1945, upon surrender of Nazi Germany.
When I visited Jersey in early 2019, I was fascinated by how these relics fit into the rugged nature of the small island and I decided to tell this story visually. I opted for 5 stills, one per year of occupation. These pictures are pure landscape, entirely void of people to emphasise the contrast between a natural fortress and its man-made imitation.
