In delivering the keynote address at the Slaveworkers’ Memorial Ceremony, Ian Ronayne spoke of the suffering endured by thousands of men who were brought to Jersey by the Germans during the Occupation.
‘While remembering those who suffered due to race, creed or colour more than 70 years ago, we should pause to also remember that these dreadful events took place in a supposedly civilised Europe,’ he said.
‘They were promulgated, perpetrated and supported by peoples across the continent who allowed dictatorship, nationalism, racism, blame and then hate to enter their lives and become codified as normal.
‘We cannot undo history. We cannot alter what happened by our words and deeds here today. We cannot redress the crimes of the past. But we can never forget historic victims, who they were, where they came from, what they suffered.
‘And we can learn from the lessons that history offers us. Perhaps never more so than in these present, turbulent times. As borders go up and tolerances come down, we should be vigilant against judging people according to their race, creed or colour. The slope towards hate is a slippery one – at its bottom is an abyss from which there is no return.’
The ceremony, which has been held in the gardens of the crematorium at Westmount for more than 60 years, was attended by about 100 people of all ages to remember the workers who came from France, Holland and Belgium. They also included French North Africans, Spanish Republicans, Russians, Poles, Belorussians and Ukrainians. They were forced to work to achieve Hitler’s aim of turning the Channel Islands into fortresses as part of his Atlantic Wall that stretched from the coast of Norway to the French border with Spain.
‘Our presence, and that of this monument, stands as testament that while the Nazis may have considered them sub-humans, or classed them as forced or slave labourers, we still remember their human suffering and sacrifice far from homes, friends and families,’ Mr Ronayne said.
Following Mr Ronayne’s address, 36 wreaths were laid at the simple memorial to the many nationalities of slave and forced workers
The first was laid by the Lieutenant-Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, on behalf of the Crown. He was followed by the Bailiff, Sir William Bailhache, and Chief Minister Ian Gorst.
Other wreath layers included families of forced and slave workers; the Mayor of Bad Wurzach – St Helier’s twin town in Germany – Roland Bürkle, Jersey’s Jewish congregation, church leaders and the Royal British Legion.
