All Journal stories The German Occupation of Sark
The Sark JournalSark's surrender and liberation, 10 May 1945
The German surrender, mine clearance and the relief force that followed
Guernsey was liberated on 9 May 1945. Sark鈥檚 formal German surrender followed on 10 May.
A small British detachment arrived under Colonel Allen. Dame Sibyl Hathaway accompanied the party to meet German commander Hauptmann Magsam and interpreted while the surrender papers were signed.
Current sources disagree on the exact building in which the signing took place. Liberation Route places the British party in the fortified Mill Lane and Le Manoir headquarters area. The Sark Visitor Centre鈥檚 2020 occupation account says the signing took place at Rosebud Cottage. The date, participants and signing are common to both accounts.
Dame Sibyl remained in charge of Sark
The British force in Guernsey had no troops to spare for a permanent presence on Sark.
German firearms were collected before Colonel Allen asked Dame Sibyl to remain in charge of the island for several more days.
The British detachment returned to Guernsey. The German garrison remained on Sark, disarmed and awaiting removal.
Mine clearance continued after surrender
More than 13,000 mines had been laid across Sark after Operation Basalt.
German personnel began clearing mines after the surrender.
Two German soldiers, J Dekan and A Hoppe, were killed while clearing roll-mines above the entrance to Creux Harbour. With Dame Sibyl鈥檚 permission, they were buried in Sark鈥檚 cemetery with full military honours.
Four-year-old Nanette Hamon had been killed by a mine near Mermaid Lane in October 1944. Two cousins who were playing with her were badly wounded.
Force 135 arrived on 17 May
A Force 135 party returned on 17 May under Major Clement. Liberation Route records a British force of 34 troops.
They checked that German disarmament orders had been carried out and evacuated about 270 German prisoners of war.
A German doctor remained temporarily until civilian medical cover could replace him.
German prisoners repaired La Coup茅e
In late May, the 259 Field Company of the British Royal Engineers arrived with around 100 German prisoners of war from Jersey.
They continued mine clearance and repaired La Coup茅e, the narrow crossing between Sark and Little Sark.
The German prisoners resurfaced La Coup茅e and added handrails. Liberation Route records that the work was complete by November 1945.
For the wider story from 1940 to 1945, read Sark in the Second World War. If you want to spend longer on the island, see retreats on Sark.
