Though it’s no secret that during WWII the Channel Islands were occupied from 1940 to 1945 what’s less well known is that over 7000 prisoners were held there on what were effectively forced labour camps. But what’s even less well known is the casual shooting of the prisoners by the prison guards as a way to pass the time as revealed in the new documentary, ‘Ghosts of Alderney : Hitler’s Island Slaves’.
The horrific revelations of these atrocities has been five years in the investigation by artist Piers Secunda. The prisoners were used as target practice by the Nazi’s at the Sylt camp on Alderney, one of four camps on the island, and was incentivized by the head of the SS guards Otto Hogelow with the promise of cigarettes, extra rations and extended leave. Normal figures for deaths at such camps was just under 400. At Sylt the total was 1134 who had ‘died’ there. So high were the numbers that it drew the attention of the high command back in Germany.
All this only really came to light because one of the surviving prisoners, the Ukrainian Giorgi Zbovorski, told his two daughters of what went on before he passed away in 2006. It’s a testament to director Secunda that he has investigated and uncovered such a shocking story and perhaps just as shocking is that none of the guards faced a military courtroom having been handed over to the USSR by the UK government both of whom did not seek any criminal action for the atrocities.
Ghosts of Alderney is an insightful look at an overlooked and unknown story made all the more alarming that it happened on British soil. Though a little convoluted in its retelling its nonetheless a compelling expose as much as for successive UK government’s failure to get justice for those that were murdered.
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related feature : ‘Desperate Journey’ – REVIEW of the true life WWII story
Here’s the Ghosts of Alderney trailer…
Ghosts of Alderney is available for free on streaming service U on Tuesday 10th February 2026 and it will air on U&Yesterday at 10am and 4pm on that day.
The post Ghosts of Alderney : Hitler’s Island Slaves – STREAMING appeared first on Any Good Films.
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