ENEMY AT THE DOOR - 1970's TV drama series about the occupation of Guernsey

[Peter Gillson]

I never saw this when it was first shown but found it on an on-line tv station, and thought it may be of interest:

https://www.tptvencore.co.uk/Video/Enemy-At-The-Door-By-Order-Of-The-Fuhrer?id=8f6c9d7f-58e6-49e2-a9b1-e3618c771fb4

Episode 1 is available until 13/5/24

Peter

[Waspie]

Watched the series years back. It is good. Must have been strange being occupied back then. Some brave people.

[rtfoe]

The music score keeps coming up now and then in my mind. Very Germanic in tune. I don't quite remember much of the series except the germans parading at the beginning of the occupation. I think it ran less than a season here or I had to study and missed it. Thanks for the memories Peter.

Cheers,
Wabble

[boatman]

HI Peter ive never seen this so ive proggamed my dvd recorder to get it are there any more seris after this one ?
thanks for lettin us know as i dont whatch tv to much now as too much junk on to instrest me
chrisb

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Guys

I watched the first episode and it's not too bad.

there are some historical inaccuracies - the bombing of the harbour prior to the German arrival was not as bad as they suggest, but there are quite a few little details which are quite accurate, such as: a policeman being the first contact with the German forces (he delivered a letter from the Bailiff). The fact that the British Government did not tell the Germans that the Island was demilitarised, the LT Governor being recalled to the UK just days before the occupation, and an attempted escape on a fishing boat.

regarding the latter, as an aside the actor John Savident, who played Fred Elliott in Corrie escaped with his family by fishing boat. he was about 2 or 3 at the time.

A couple of things which were not mentioned but suggest the German advance across France was faster than thry expected were that when they arrived they didn't bring a flag and had to have one made!. Also they had no maps and had to buy tourist maps - one is held in the Bundesarchive on which the general locations of the initial defensive positions were marked out. Somehow Itend to think of armies being slightly better organiesed.
peter