Heligoland

The True Story of German Bight and the Island that Britain Forgot

George Drower

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9780752460673
• eBook ISBN: 9780752472805
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

In 1956 sea area Heligoland became German Bight. But why did the North Sea island, which for nearly a century had demonstrated its loyalty to Britain, lose its identity? How had this once peaceful haven become, as Admiral Jacky Fisher exclaimed 'a dagger pointed at England's heart'? Behind the renaming of Heligoland lies a catalogue of deceit, political ambition, blunder and daring. Heligoland came under British rule in the nineteenth century, a 'Gibraltar' of the North Sea. Then, in 1890, despite the islanders' wishes, Lord Salisbury announced his intention to swap it for Germany's presence in Zanzibar. The Prime Minister's decision unleashed a storm of controversy. Queen Victoria telegrammed from Balmoral to register her fury. During both world wars, it was used by Germany to control the North Sea, and RAF planes bombed the once-British territory. The story of Heligoland is more than an obscure footnote to the British Empire - it shows the significance of territory throughout history.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1. HMS Explosion Arrives
• 2. Gibraltar of the North Sea
• 3. Rivalries in Africa
• 4. Queen Victoria Opposes
• 5. Swapped
• 6. The Riddle of the Sands
• 7. Churchill Prepares to Invade
• 8. Project Hummerschere
• 9. ‘Big Bang’
• 10. The Islanders Return
• 11. Forgotten Island
• Notes
• Bibliography