On May 16, 1940, the German occupation of Terschelling began as soldiers disembarked from the ss Vliestroom. The isolated island became a strategic part of the German Atlantic Wall. The Dutch flag on the Brandaris lighthouse was replaced with a swastika, and local soldiers were captured.

Terschelling’s location made it vital for German defense. The Tiger-stelling radar station near West-Terschelling monitored Allied movements, with up to 2,200 German soldiers stationed on the island, compared to 3,300 residents. Large areas were declared restricted zones, limiting the locals’ freedom. Islanders were forced into labor to build bunkers, initially voluntarily, later under coercion.

Daily life was marked by tension. Soldiers were quartered with families, and social interactions became strained as the war dragged on. The island bore witness to the air war: Allied planes, such as the Halifax DK203, were shot down, and the crew was buried on Terschelling.

The war also took a toll at sea, with 43 islanders losing their lives. After the Netherlands’ liberation on May 5, 1945, Terschelling remained under German control until June 5. Although the war left scars, the islanders endured, symbolized by the enduring presence of the Brandaris lighthouse.