Heligoland, The Tiny Forgotten Outpost of the British Empire

Heligoland, the tiny forgotten outpost of the British Empire.

Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.

HOW TO SUPPORT MY CHANNEL

1)Become A Patron
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Supporters-club
or
2)Join My YouTube membership
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyTGpFsD0AJkQ6KSCW8d_Ug/join
or
3) Make a one-off donation
https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistorychap

Measuring less than one square mile, the island of Heligoland in the North Sea, just 30 miles off the north German coast, is an easily forgotten British colony.
But, this Frisian (not German) peaking island of 3,000 inhabitants was part of the British Empire from 1814 to 1890.
It had its own British governor (or.Lt. governor), it’s own flag incorporating the Union flag, and from 1867 issued its own stamps with Queen Victoria’s head on them.

During British rule, the island became a spa resort attracting the cream of European society.
The laid-back colony, became a hub for German liberals, avoiding the more draconian
governments in places like Prussia.
One of these liberal was the poet, August Heinrich Hoffman von Fallersleben.
Whilst staying on the island in 1841 he wrote a poem entitled “Das Lied der Deutschen”
Put to a tune previously written by Joseph Hayden 40 years before, it has become the German National Anthem.

In 1890 in a bizarre land deal, Britian gave up the island to Kaiser Wilhelm II's Germany in return for recognition of her colonial ambitions in Uganda, Kenya & Zanzibar.

During both the First and Second World Wars the island was heavily fortified by the Germans.
During WW2, it suffered from a 1,000 bomber raid from the RAF and after the war, in 1947 the British conduscted one of the largest ever non-nuclear explosions to destroy German fortifications once and for all (operation Big Bang).

Nowadays, Heligoland, with a population of just over 1,000 is part of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:37 Britain's Forgotten Colony
2:23 Treaty of Kiel
3:28 British Colony
4:28 German National Anthem
5:14 Times Are Changing
6:04 German Ambitions
6:56 Heligoland Zanzibar Treaty
7:51 A British Mistake?
9:22 First World War
10:51 Heligoland WW2
11:47 1,000 Bomber Raid
12:51 Heligoland Explosion 1947
13:26 Heligoland Today



Follow me at:
www.thehistorychap.com
Instagram:https://bit.ly/3iySrAj
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChap

My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.

History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.

My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"

Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.

Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.