The German Occupation Museum in Les Houards, Guernsey, documents island life under German rule from 1940 to 1945. Its collection brings together weapons, uniforms, photographs, letters, newspaper clippings and personal belongings, with stories about the people who lived through the occupation. Look out for the recreated wartime kitchen and street, where shopfronts and figures give a sense of daily life. The museum is close to Guernsey Airport, but its opening window ends at 1pm, so plan your visit for the morning.
A collection that began with a schoolboy
The museum grew from a local collection of wartime objects. As a boy, Richard Heaume gathered spent bullets from fields after they had been ploughed. His family let him display the finds in a garden shed, and the collection developed into a museum devoted to Guernsey’s experience under German occupation.
The displays cover the years from 1940 to 1945, when German forces occupied the island. They include weapons, uniforms and communications equipment alongside objects connected to civilian life. Letters, photographs, books and newspaper cuttings give the military material a human context, showing how the occupation touched people at home as well as those in uniform.
Scenes from everyday life
The recreated wartime street brings together shopfronts, figures and military equipment. Behind the cafe, a model street evokes the island during the occupation. A separate kitchen scene depicts a family at home, with the father listening to an illegal radio and the mother watching for German troops. These settings offer a way to picture ordinary routines under the restrictions and dangers of occupation.
Other displays address the islanders’ experiences, including the fate of Guernsey’s Jewish residents and the internment of people in France. The subject matter is sober, and the exhibits include personal stories as well as objects. Take time with the written material if you want to understand how the collection connects individual lives to the wider wartime history.
Allow time for the displays
The museum is larger than its exterior might suggest, with exhibits continuing upstairs. You can spend well over an hour reading the labels and looking through the many objects, so a quick stop may leave parts unexplored. The recreated street and kitchen add a change of scale from the cases of documents and memorabilia.
The museum is on Rue des les Houards, within walking distance of Guernsey Airport. It is open in the morning and closes at 1pm, so check the current opening information before travelling. Entry and purchases are cash only. The museum has a small cafe at the back, but the main reason to allow extra time is the breadth of the collection.
Perguntas frequentes
How long should I spend at the German Occupation Museum?
Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours to explore the displays and read the accompanying material.
Can I pay by card at the German Occupation Museum?
No. Bring cash for entry and any purchases.
When should I visit the museum?
Go in the morning. It closes at 1pm.
What can I see at the museum?
The collection includes wartime weapons, uniforms, letters, photographs and newspaper clippings, as well as a recreated street and kitchen.
