The Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi Germany for much of World War II, from 30 June 1940 until the liberation on 9 May 1945. The Channel Islands are two British Crown dependencies and include the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey (which are not parts of the United Kingdom) as well as the smaller islands of Alderney and Sark (both part of the bailiwick of Guernsey). The islands, which are closer to Normandy than they are to Britain, were the only portions of the British Isles to be invaded and occupied by German forces during the war.
A fire control tower is a structure located near the U.S. coast that was used to detect and locate enemy vessels offshore, direct fire upon them from coastal batteries, or adjust the aim of guns by spotting shell splashes. These towers were part of the U.S. Coast Artillery fire control system, and were used between about 1900 and the end of WW2.