Heligoland: Britain, Germany, and the Struggle for the North Sea

Product Description

On 18 April 1947, British forces set off the largest non-nuclear explosion in history. The target was a small island in the North Sea, fifty miles off the German coast, which for generations had stood as a symbol of Anglo-German conflict: Heligoland.

A long tradition of rivalry was to come to an end here, in the ruins of Hitler’s island fortress. Pressed as to why it was not prepared to give Heligoland back, the British government declared that the island represented everything that was wrong with the Germans: ‘If any tradition was worth breaking, and if any sentiment was worth changing, then the German sentiment about Heligoland was such a one’.

Drawing on a wide range of archival material, Jan Ruger explores how Britain and Germany have collided and collaborated in this North Sea enclave. For much of the nineteenth century, this was Britain’s smallest colony, an inconvenient and notoriously discontented outpost at the edge of Europe. Situated at the fault line between imperial and national histories, the island became a metaphor for Anglo-German rivalry once Germany had acquired it in 1890. Turned into a naval stronghold under the Kaiser and again under Hitler, it was fought over in both world wars. Heavy bombardment by the Allies reduced it to ruins, until the Royal Navy re-took it in May 1945. Returned to West Germany in 1952, it became a showpiece of reconciliation, but one that continues to wear the scars of the twentieth century.

Tracing this rich history of contact and conflict from the Napoleonic Wars to the Cold War,
Heligoland brings to life a fascinating microcosm of the Anglo-German relationship. For generations this cliff-bound island expressed a German will to bully and battle Britain; and it mirrored a British determination to prevent Germany from establishing hegemony on the Continent. Caught in between were the Heligolanders and those involved with them: spies and smugglers, poets and painters, sailors and soldiers.

Far more than just the history of a small island in the North Sea, this is the compelling story of a relationship which has defined modern Europe.

Review

“Jan Rüger […] has achieved the notable feat of telling a story almost none of us knows. His account of Heligoland’s Napoleonic-era experience is a high spot, but the whole work is studded with unexpected gems about extraordinary people.” — Max Hastings,
The Sunday Times, Paperback of the week (26th May, 2019)

“Resonant… a prism through which to view the entire span of Anglo-German rivalry, conflict and, eventually, reconciliation.” —
The Guardian

“Visitors today may be quite unaware of Heligoland’s curious history or of the weight of symbolism it once bore. Day trippers come now to enjoy the bird watching, the 1950s architecture, the duty-free cigarettes. Before setting out, they should read Mr. Ruger’s fascinating book.” —
The Wall Street
Journal

“Mr Ruger makes his case that Heligoland’s fortunes are a useful bellwether of wider relations and he relates his story in an engaging style … More people should know Heligoland’s story for the echoes it has today.” —
The Economist

“One of the book’s greatest advantages is its periodization and long-term perspective. It makes it easy to follow, and it places the narrative within broader processes and events. The main arguments are clearly presented and the text is highly readable. Personal stories and anecdotes contribute to this readability. Numerous illustrations are interspersed in the text and support it nicely… the book is a brilliant example of the way in which geographical features can serve as an axis for the study of history.” —
Daniel Uziel, H-Soz-Kult

”
Heligoland is recommended for readers of maritime history with an interest in the two world wars.” — Chris Madsen,
The Northern Mariner

“He provides a rich and highly readable study that is a valuable addition to the literature on Anglo-German relations in the nineteenth and twentieth centur