Islands at War
AUGUST 1944 PART 1 - FUGITIVE ON THE RUN, BARON HANS MAX VON AUFSESS, BATTLE FOR SAINT MALO
Jul 06, 2026
Season 1
Episode 78
In this episode we introduce a new diary, Baron Hans Max Baron von und zu Aufsess, you can get his diaries here.
His diary chronicles in detail his dealings with the civilian population, his ‘parishioners’ as he called them, and with the leading island politicians in Jersey and Guernsey. There were disagreements and wrangles but by and large Aufsess managed to oversee an occupation considerably less oppressive than any other in Europe.
The Escape of Graham Buckingham.
One of the most gripping stories from the diaries is that of Graham Buckingham, a local footballer sentenced to two years imprisonment for theft. His daring escape from German custody highlights the desperation and resourcefulness of those living under occupation. After evading capture, he sought refuge with local families, navigating a treacherous landscape fraught with danger. His story illustrates the lengths individuals would go to in order to resist oppression and maintain their freedom.
HMS Rodney shells Alderney. Watch it here
We run through events of the month day by day.
Nicks book "Tides of Defiance" can be purchased here
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You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.
Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.