German Soldiers Parade In Guernsey For First Time Since WW2

For the first time since the end of the Second World War, German personnel have paraded in Guernsey in dress uniform.

The soldiers, from NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Gloucestershire, were taking part in a service of rededication at the German war cemetery on the island.

Over the last two weeks, the Germans and their British colleagues have been renovating the site which contains the graves of 111 German soldiers who died in Guernsey during the German Occupation of the Channel Islands.

The service was designed to show the work they have done and illustrate the sense of reconciliation and friendship that now exists between the German Army and the people of Guernsey.

Colonel Frank Duewel, NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, said: "For a German, of course, with the history of the Second World War it’s a little bit awkward all the time but to see how this whole thing was appreciated by the locals here and the friendliness and the support is amazing, really amazing.

"We feel honoured."

The Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, and Colonel Frank Duewel from the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps laid a special wreath of remembrance with red poppies, our sign of remembrance, alongside blue forget-me-nots, the German one.

Graham Williams, a Royal Navy veteran, said: "It’s a culmination of all the work they did over the last 10 days. It’s a perfect day – nice and quiet, nice and peaceful, nice and cool. To actually go through [the service] was very poignant."