- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Sutton Publishing Ltd; illustrated edition edition (30 Nov 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0750926007
- ISBN-13: 978-0750926003
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 14.1 x 3.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 661,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Heligoland is the astounding story of a mysterious British colony in the North Sea that the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, swapped for Zanzibar in 1890. After years of having a UK-style flag, postage stamps, taxation system and currency, Heligolanders were soon experiencing the crushing of their culture, and were forced into learning German. The unscrupulous transference of the island to Germany, in defiance of the islanders' wishes, sparked a public controversy; the explorer Stanley famously commented that Britain had obtained a waistcoat in exchange for a trouser button. The sacrifice of the enigmatic Heligoland became a strategic blunder during the two World Wars, when the island was made into a weaponry fortress by the Germans. After the Second World War there was a plot to cover up the mistake when Britain planned to destroy Heligoland with an A-bomb strength explosion. Implicated in the epic scandal are many key personalities; among them Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm, Arthur Balfour, and The Riddle of the Sands author Erskine Childers. Heligoland goes beyond an amazing story of intrigue, high adventure and national ambition. It highlights Britain's relations with continental Europe; the conduct of the British Empire; even the shape and identity of the British Isles. Using techniques of biography, popular history and narrative, this book unravels for the first time the true story of the island Britain gave away.
About the Author
George Drower is an expert on overseas territories and author of the widely acclaimed Britain's Dependent Territories and The Overseas Territories Handbook (HMSO, Feb 98). He has also written a number of political biographies
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Being an avid reader of German history I was not disappointed by this book. The detail research involved is considerable and the story is almost spell binding. As regards official attitudes to public opinion, has anything changed in 100 years?
My only critique is the somewhat jingoistic 'little englander' tone of presentation and also, sadly a small number of careless spelling errors and facts, especially of German names.
Nevertheless, a jolly good and interesting read.
Michael J C Wilson ma fipd
My only critique is the somewhat jingoistic 'little englander' tone of presentation and also, sadly a small number of careless spelling errors and facts, especially of German names.
Nevertheless, a jolly good and interesting read.
Michael J C Wilson ma fipd
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It would probably surprise many people, British or otherwise, to learn that Britain once had a colony in northern Europe. An island in the North Sea which it gave to Germany in the 19th century - only to find it being used as a base for enemy naval operations against Britain in two world wars. The island is Heligoland (known in German as Helgoland), and it is the subject of this intriguing book by George Drower.
Captured from Denmark in 1807, Heligoland became a British possession when its strategic importance was realised. Although a tiny, barren, rocky outpost set in very hostile seas, Heligoland was ideally situated to enforce a naval blockade against Napoleonic France. Given its significance, the British saw no reason to let go of it when the war was over. Money was spent on infrastructure, and the local population were apparently satisfied with British rule. There was even talk of the island becoming a "Gibraltar of the north". There is irony in the fact that this island, whose strategic location was well recognised by both the British and the Germans, should eventually be handed to Germany without a shot being fired.
By the late 19th century, Germany's naval programme was well under way, and with the building of the Kiel Canal, the German government wanted Heligoland to secure passage for its ships from the North Sea into Germany. The British swapped the island for German colonial possessions in East Africa, with the views of the islanders barely being considered. The Germans had wholly imaginary notions of Heligoland's "German" heritage and misty-eyed German tourists swamped the island - the German national anthem "Deutschland uber Alles" was even written there. But by the outbreak of WWI, they had different plans for it, and in both World Wars the island was turned into a fortified naval base, the islanders eventually being evacuated to the mainland. After Germany's defeat in the First World War, some thought was given to reclaiming the island as a British colony - but the navy believed it too difficult to hold against an attacking force when it was so close to Germany. After WWII the island was used as a bombing range by the allies, and there may even have been a deliberate attempt to make it uninhabitable, and so neutralise its military potential.
Heligoland's story makes for a fascinating read, and it's all the more surprising that it hasn't really been told before. The island was never quite destroyed by two world wars, or its later role as a bombing range, but it's been airbrushed from history all the same, an oversight at last rectified by this book.
Captured from Denmark in 1807, Heligoland became a British possession when its strategic importance was realised. Although a tiny, barren, rocky outpost set in very hostile seas, Heligoland was ideally situated to enforce a naval blockade against Napoleonic France. Given its significance, the British saw no reason to let go of it when the war was over. Money was spent on infrastructure, and the local population were apparently satisfied with British rule. There was even talk of the island becoming a "Gibraltar of the north". There is irony in the fact that this island, whose strategic location was well recognised by both the British and the Germans, should eventually be handed to Germany without a shot being fired.
By the late 19th century, Germany's naval programme was well under way, and with the building of the Kiel Canal, the German government wanted Heligoland to secure passage for its ships from the North Sea into Germany. The British swapped the island for German colonial possessions in East Africa, with the views of the islanders barely being considered. The Germans had wholly imaginary notions of Heligoland's "German" heritage and misty-eyed German tourists swamped the island - the German national anthem "Deutschland uber Alles" was even written there. But by the outbreak of WWI, they had different plans for it, and in both World Wars the island was turned into a fortified naval base, the islanders eventually being evacuated to the mainland. After Germany's defeat in the First World War, some thought was given to reclaiming the island as a British colony - but the navy believed it too difficult to hold against an attacking force when it was so close to Germany. After WWII the island was used as a bombing range by the allies, and there may even have been a deliberate attempt to make it uninhabitable, and so neutralise its military potential.
Heligoland's story makes for a fascinating read, and it's all the more surprising that it hasn't really been told before. The island was never quite destroyed by two world wars, or its later role as a bombing range, but it's been airbrushed from history all the same, an oversight at last rectified by this book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Heligoland's history over the past 200 years is closely linked with Great Britain and yet most Britons would have difficulty in locating the island . About 29 miles off the north German coast it was a British colony for most of the 19th century and as this excellent book describes , the inhabitants were very happy to be part of our Empire especially as their appointed Governors became very much part of the community and respected as such.
Older readers will recall the Shipping Forecast for 'Heligoland' before the name was dropped and no doubt, some RAF personnel will recall bombing the island for real in WW2 or for practice thereafter. It's still there though despite the topography being substantially altered by bombs and land explosions !
Nowadays it is a popular 'duty and VAT free' destination for day trippers from Hamburg or Cuxhaven. Most will also walk the paths above the high, red sandstone cliffs and for those staying a while longer there are the sandy beaches on the adjoining island. It is also a birdwatcher's paradise.
So my view is - read the book first ,if you can, because it will enhance the enjoyment of your visit to this fascinating place. It is a well researched and immensely readable history with many amusing anecdotes as well as those tinged with sadness. Perhaps saddest of all is that, despite Queen Victoria's objections, we gave it away and the story of this is the backbone of Mr Drower's work.
Older readers will recall the Shipping Forecast for 'Heligoland' before the name was dropped and no doubt, some RAF personnel will recall bombing the island for real in WW2 or for practice thereafter. It's still there though despite the topography being substantially altered by bombs and land explosions !
Nowadays it is a popular 'duty and VAT free' destination for day trippers from Hamburg or Cuxhaven. Most will also walk the paths above the high, red sandstone cliffs and for those staying a while longer there are the sandy beaches on the adjoining island. It is also a birdwatcher's paradise.
So my view is - read the book first ,if you can, because it will enhance the enjoyment of your visit to this fascinating place. It is a well researched and immensely readable history with many amusing anecdotes as well as those tinged with sadness. Perhaps saddest of all is that, despite Queen Victoria's objections, we gave it away and the story of this is the backbone of Mr Drower's work.
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