Island at War

Season

2004

7.6

During the Second World War, a quiet channel island community is thrown into turmoil by the invasion forces of Nazi Germany.

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Episode List

S1 • E1

Eve of the War

1940: Fishing off the Normandy coast,Wilf Jonas,policeman on the Channel Island of St. Gregory,sees two English soldiers shot by Germans and realises that the German occupation of the islands is imminent. An evacuation to Britain is arranged. Jewish photography shop owner Mr. Izaaks is amongst those leaving but Zelda Landau,a young Jewess,is denied passage as she lacks a British passport. Urban Mahy,a grocer,agrees to take over Mr. Izaak's shop and is at the harbour to arrange the evacuation of his wife Chrissy and daughters,Angelique and singer June. However German planes,mistaking civilian trucks for troop lorries,strafe the quay and Urban is killed. Felicity Dorr,wife of deputy bailiff and senator James Dorr,is slightly injured. Then the Germans,led by Baron Von Rheingarten,arrive.

S1 • E2

Living with the Enemy

Widowed Cassie Mahy is humiliated by sadistic lieutenant Walker after she tries to refuse him service in her shop whilst her daughters reopen Mr. Izaak's business and Angelique is annoyed with June for agreeing to develop photographs for young airman Bernhard Tellemann. Von Rheingarten commandeers part of the Dorrs' large house after Felicity has been rude to him. The Dorrs' son Philip and his friend Eugene LaSalle are on a spying mission for England on the island but their plan to escape by submarine is thwarted and a German soldier killed. The boys are now stuck on the island and hide out with Wilf and his wife Kathleen,on their farm,Wilf burying the corpse to prevent reprisals.

S1 • E3

To Catch a Spy

Wilf,under the guise of setting lobster pots,dumps the dead German in deep waters though Lt. Flach is suspicious of the time he spent at sea. Philip and Eugene hide with the Jonases but Eugene is ill and the Dorrs try and persuade him to surrender and be treated as a prisoner-of-war,which he does. Philip,meanwhile,under the alias of Brotherson,is taken on as handyman by his parents. Von Rheingarten begins to have civilized conversations with Felicity,but she is wary as she knows that he is aware of the second spy at large on the island. Bernhardt gives Angelique a present of eggs and visits her father's grave with her whilst Wilf is drafted to serve as the Baron's chauffeur and Kathleen's wheeler-dealer brother Sheldon does deals with the German quarter-master Wimmel. Walker takes a shine to Zelda,unaware that she is Jewish.

S1 • E4

Strange Mercies

French prostitutes arrive for the Germans and obnoxious Lt. Flach,pretending to mistake her for one,interrogates Kathleen as to the spy's whereabouts but has to let her go as the Baron wants reasonable relationships between the islanders and their occupiers. Flach does,however torture and shoot Eugene,who dies giving nothing away. The Baron is regretful for the death of a young man. Bernhardt convinces Angelique that his feelings for her are genuine and they kiss. Zelda is less enamoured of Walker's pursuit of her and hides out with Cassie,who has been persuaded into a bizarre partnership with Wimmel and Sheldon to indulge in a little profiteering.

S1 • E5

Unexpected Revelations

Eugene's parents visit his grave and are threatened with arrest by the Baron,leading the islanders into defiance by keeping a vigil to mourn the dead youth. They also trick the Germans by thieving a pig upon which they feast. Bernhardt goes on a bombing mission,promising Angelique he will drop his bombs in the sea. His mission is declared a failure as most of his comrades are shot down but he survives,to Angelique's great joy. The Baron takes a shine to 'Mr. Brotherson' as a good worker but Philip must be careful. Cassie begins an affair with Wimmel and Walker discovers that Zelda is actually Hannah,a Jewess. He demands sex in exchange for his silence but again she runs from him and the Mahys hide her in a room in their loft. June deflects attention away,which pleases her mother who was doubting her daughter's loyalty,given that she sings at the German army night-club.

S1 • E6

Unusual Successes

June is singing at the club when a man accuses her of being a Jerry lover and she is hit in the face with a glass. Back at the shop she discovers that Angelique is in love with Bernhardt whilst Walker seeks out the man who injured June and beats him to death. James admits to Eugene's parents that he feels guilty for having persuaded him to surrender and consequently be shot. He gives Philip all the information he has on the Germans on the island and Sheldon agrees to take Zelda and Philip to England. Wilf is to take Wimmel fishing to cause a diversion but Wilf's son Colin,misinterpreting the situation,thinks Wimmel is about to kill his father and shoots at him. Zelda avoids capture and returns to Cassie's shop but Philip is caught and Felicity admits to the baron who he is,offering to have sex with him to spare her son's life. Rather than have him shot Von Rheingarten sends him to a prisoner-of-war camp and is also lenient in the sentences he gives Wilf and James for their part in the failed escape. He confesses that he is tired of seeing young men die,having learned that his own son has been shot down whilst flying with the Luftwaffe.