Major plans unveiled as Jersey War Tunnels embark on commemorative year

Wednesday 04 March 2015

The Island’s leading tourist attraction has opened this week with a new immersive ‘Organisation Todt’ exhibition, an enhanced Liberation Gallery and a schedule of exciting events to mark the 70th anniversary of Liberation.

Jersey War Tunnels have invested a considerable amount of capital this year to ensure the Liberation anniversary is marked with a series of celebratory events and exhibitions. The investment follows a particularly positive statistical report from the Shadow Tourism Board which indicates a 4% increase in visitors to Jersey with 52% of tourists visiting Jersey War Tunnels.

The attraction’s new Organisation Todt Exhibition ‘The OT Gallery’ reveals a photorealistic interpretation of OT stories which have been animated into an engaging sequence of events. It also depicts how the Tunnels were constructed by the forced and slave workers during WWII. The exhibition has a dual purpose; to educate and inform visitors about the hardships endured and to commemorate the people who lost their lives during the Tunnel’s construction. The exhibition has been created using high-level, digital production methods that bring Jersey War Tunnels on a par with some of the best museums and attractions in the world.

Whilst researching Organisation Todt the exhibition’s creative team, The Observatory, discovered information leading to the fact that at least 22 slave workers died during the construction of Jersey War Tunnels. During WWII the workers had to excavate the shale using a railway and cart system and their work was arduous and dangerous; the new exhibition will ensure that their labours and losses will never be forgotten.

A new Liberation Gallery and Theatre have also been created inside the tunnel complex. The large, atmospheric space has already been used for the premiere of local short film ‘United Front’ - the winning entry of the JWT Liberation Film Competition. The film is now taking pride of place in the JWT ‘Paper Wars’ exhibition as a brand new addition for visitors this year.

Another highlight for 2015 will be a week full of events and celebrations at Jersey War Tunnels in the run up to Liberation Day. The full schedule is soon to be released but already includes an opening of the Tunnels at night, a Vintage Liberation Fête, and a war trail foraging and cookery lesson by Michelin starred chef Shaun Rankin. 

Kathy Bechelet, Operations Manager, Jersey War Tunnels, said: "As the Island’s most poignant reminder of Occupation, Jersey War Tunnels will be central to the commemorations surrounding the 70th Anniversary of Liberation. This is an important year for us and one we are marking in many ways to ensure those lost are remembered and the lessons of history remain.

"We are proud to launch our new Liberation Theatre and our audio-visual spectacle the OT Gallery; so much has gone into creating them to ensure they are a fitting reminder of the hardships endured and the people who lost their lives. We also look forward to the jubilations that will come with the anniversary of Liberation and we have planned a week of events to celebrate. We hope visitors and locals alike will join us to mark this important milestone."