A dusty, forgotten copy of the unused military plan for the liberation of the Channel Islands is going up for auction, having been discovered in a cardboard box 80 years after the islands were freed at the end of the Second World War.

The 50-page document – a copy of ‘Operation Nestegg’ – details the British forces’ plan to free the German-occupied islands.

The long forgotten copy of the plans will be available to buy from Hansons Auctioneers’ military sale, with an estimated price of between £800-£1,200.

The document outlines meticulous details of the planned mission, including the number of ships that might have been used, and mine-sweeping instructions. 

According to the auction house, the plans were created in case the 40,000 German troops based across the islands refused to surrender without a fight, which was a serious consideration at the time. 

However, as we all know, the Occupation ended with the signing of the surrender treaty aboard HMS Bulldog on 9 May 1945.

  • Pictured: Plans for “Operation Nestegg” will soon find a new home for potentially a four figure sum.
  • Pictured: Plans for “Operation Nestegg” will soon find a new home for potentially a four figure sum.
  • Pictured: Plans for “Operation Nestegg” will soon find a new home for potentially a four figure sum.

The Channel Islands were home to 80,000 residents during the Occupation era. That included 41,00 people in Jersey, 24,500 in Guernsey, 470 in Sark and 18 in Alderney.

The British government, having not defended the islands at the time they were occupied in June 1940, feared the cost of a forced liberation would be far too great.

The Occupation lasted for five years before coming to an end in May 1945 as the Victory in Europe was declared and Germany was defeated.

The islands were liberated a day after VE Day, and ultimately the occasion was a success without bloodshed. 

Had Operation Nestegg been enacted, it would have been an audacious attempt to take back control of both Guernsey and Jersey simultaneously. 

The plans – which are well known and several other copies of the documents exist – detailed the forces required to take back the islands, including three 700-man battalions and engineer units, with the goal to land the occupying forces through the ports of St Peter Port and St Helier. 

The documents also outline specific planned landing locations, such as St Aubin’s Bay in Jersey and L’Ancresse in Guernsey, despite treacherous tidal ranges. 

The sale for the plans will take place on Wednesday 13 August, at Hansons Auctioneers’ in Derbyshire.

Their militaria expert, Matt Crowson, said the discovery of the documents was a surprise and very interesting.

“It’s an incredible story. The document had been part of a dusty box of papers in a UK saleroom, the value of which was considered negligible. But on closer examination the vendor came across a piece of WWII history detailing the freeing of the only Nazi-occupied area of the UK.”

Mr Crowson continued: “A document like this really brings home the suffering of the Channel Islanders during the German occupation, some 2,300 of whom were deported to German prison and internment camps. By the time of the liberation in 1945 many were close to starvation.

“The essential role played by the men and women involved in Operation Nestegg, and their story of freedom, cannot be underestimated. And the fact the document came to light in the 80th anniversary year of Liberation Day makes it even more special.”