German OT wore OT uniforms; civilians from other nations wore civilian clothes. 319 Infantry Division (319 ID), which had been created in November 1940 and was designed as a static division for service in occupied Europe, was allocated to the islands. An additional 13 being mounted in open field positions. Sixteen tunnels were planned in 1942, this was increased to twenty nine in 1943. Media in category "Fortifications of World War II in Guernsey" The following 48 files are in this category, out of 48 total. [13]:57 Some of the workers were Jews; around 1,000 French Jews spent time in the Channel Islands. Most beach defences were designed to fire across the beach, the embrasures being protected from enemy fire from the open sea. The OT pay scale would provide them with 60% more than the normal local wages,[10]:150 but a team of eight plasterers negotiated a pay rise so they were each paid £12 a week if they managed to plaster 35m² per 10-hour shift. At the end of the reign of Henry VIII, in 1546 work was begun on building a fortification on the site that would become known as Essex Castle, the only remains are the current North and West walls of the fortification. [3]:14–26 Tunnelling could be continued 24 hours a day with two 12 hours shifts as lighting in the tunnel could not be seen outside at night. See more ideas about guernsey, world war, channel islands. Volunteer and conscripted labour would receive much better treatment than would forced labour. long hours without respite. The manual labourers - mainly prisoners of war - were treated like slaves, housed in camps, poorly fed and forced to work Barbed wire, 2 cm Flak positions, a Tobruk pit, 150 cm searchlight, minefields, Pak40 anti tank gun, and a Freya radar supported the battery. WWII Occupation & Fortification. 1). Hundreds of reinforced bunkers, gun emplacements [7]:66 This compares to the £2-10-0 a week offered by the States of Guernsey. The German occupation of the Channel Islands lasted for most of the Second World War, from 30 June 1940 until their liberation on 9 May 1945.The Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey are two British Crown dependencies in the English Channel, near the coast of Normandy.The Channel Islands were the only de jure part of the British Empire to be occupied by Nazi Germany during the war. [1]:212–4, Forced workers from overseas only had the clothes they were wearing when taken, often summer clothes. From October 1941 and especially throughout 1942, building works moved ahead rapidly in hundreds of sites. Guernsey recorded 112 deaths of foreign workers: Channel Islands Occupation Society, (1994), This page was last edited on 13 December 2020, at 15:37. We have seen some come back for holiday/memorial days. The chapters from the original book have been reproduced in a set of ten paperbacks. The smaller Freya radar was less visible. Historic defence works, considered by the engineers to be of high quality construction and well placed were given concrete additions,[16]:68 Castle Cornet, Vale Castle, Fort Hommet and Bréhon Tower amongst them and would become SP's or WN's. Other buildings used as headquarters included the Crown Hotel, which served as the Harbourmaster's office. Put up the lookout towers. Netzknotenpunkt (Telephone network bunkers) were built to protect vulnerable exchanges. [1]:193 Anti glider poles were installed on potential landing sites. Fittings such as air purification systems, showers, gas proof doors, telephones, periscopes, and wiring were standardised. The battery became operational in June 1942. Download this stock image: German WW2 fortifications on Guernsey coastal defences - MPA878 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Local workers too were recruited. Using four barrels taken from a 1917 Imperial Russian dreadnaught captured in Norway and resting on platforms manufactured by Friedrich Krupp A.G., these 30.5 cm guns had a potential range of 51 kilometres (32 mi) with lightweight high explosive shells, weighing 250 kg or 31 kilometres (19 mi) with the heavier 405 kg armour piercing shells. The resulting construction work in the Channel Islands was extensive; it required thousands of workers and massive supplies of cement and steel. The fortifications were however never needed. A visit by Dr Todt, who was also Minister of Armaments, took place in early October.[7]:16. [15], Ten other coastal artillery batteries, which included 1 x 15 cm SK C/28 and 1 x French 22 cm K532(f) at Jerbourg Point, run by Marine units, 3 x 21 cm Mörser 18 and 3 x French 22 cm K532(f) army units, all designed primarily to fire out to sea, were placed in open concrete pits so that they could turn 360 degrees. Conditions in Alderney were the worst where for a period the SS ran some Alderney camps. Two of the batteries were in casemates; three were in reinforced in field positions of earth and timber construction.[4]:59–60. The Islands of Guernsey are what’s known as an ‘archipelago’ – a collection of islands located on the English Channel between England and France. First line of defense. Each of the Islands of Guernsey had a completely different occupation experience, from total evacuation to horrifying occupation. [24]:2, Some positions were buried under soil and landscaped with plants and trees. [1]:190–3, On 16 June 1941 Hitler's instructions to reinforce the islands were transmitted there from Oberbefehlshaber West; the rationale was that an Allied attack "must be reckoned with" in Summer 1941. Luftwaffe fighter groups JG27 and JG53, equipped with Me Bf 109s, had been based during Kanalkampf in Guernsey in 1940. Fortress engineers and OT workers returned to France to work on. Shops for joiners and lock smiths were set up. [16]:104 However, U-Boats in Guernsey were too vulnerable to air attack. From October 1941 and especially throughout 1942, building works moved ahead rapidly in hundreds of sites. Most of L'Ancresse bay is protected by a wall. [7]:56 Tiny Guernsey received special treatment. How many fortifications were built, how long it took to build them and what were the standard plans (e.g. Oct 28, 2020 - Explore Marcel Edwards's board "world war 2 Guernsey German soldiers 1940-1945" on Pinterest. Beach sand and pebbles would be used as a last resort.[7]:43. In September 1944 there were 10,980 troops in Guernsey comprising:[14]:52. At Fort Saumarez L’Eree headland, a trench system with machine gun and a Tobruk pit has been opened up and is accessible to the public.[16]:179. Russian State Military Archives, Inventory 500, Documents of the OB West. Memoirs of Captain Henry Beckingham in command of clearing minefields after the War. 4 is now an occupation museum. However, when multiple targets were visible, it was almost impossible to know which ship each tower was observing. In cinemas April 20th. . [21]:188 A type R633 bunker took 845m³ of concrete and 40 tons of steel to build. [1]:196 Reinforced with additional Heer units including 16th Machine Gun Battalion and 213th Panzer Battalion, and Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe units. The work would continue as planned, despite the death of Dr Todt in a plane crash in February 1942. [7]:19 OT would carry out the majority of the work. Many of the German works are on private land and so inaccessible to the public. The German garrison in the Channel Islands surrendered without a fight on 9 May 1945. Guernsey WW2 bunker to open to public. OT, formed in 1933, was a construction organization that organised and supervised the work of a number of engineering and construction companies, as well as supplying a large labour force. Initially the Germans built only feldmässige Anlage (field-type construction) positions. Being in the front line of many wars, invasion was almost always a threat and the best locations for defence were being constantly rebuilt with older constructions being re-used and improved. Four are located in Guernsey. [3]:37, The tunnelling system adopted comprised, drilling a series of holes, several metres deep, inserting charges and detonating them, this created a hole 2–3 metres high and the same width. [17]:30, A small number of the obsolescent French Renault FT tanks were shipped in 1941 to the island. Albert Speer replaced Todt. Each location had defences and facilities to suit its specific needs, the thickness of walls, floor, and ceiling were standard. [7]:115 Detailed death certificates were filled out and the deaths were reported to OT in St Malo. This weekend marks 75 years since the beginning of the liberation of the Islands of Guernsey after the Second World War. A Channel Islands historian tells us, "Most of the OT workers started moving back to France towards the end of 1943 to repair the damage the RAF were inflicting on the railways etc, by 6th June 1944 nearly all the building of fortifications had been done, however in Alderney the slave workers were still there. Many Dutchmen and others who were brought to Guernsey by the Germans stay… In Guernsey a total of 92,995m³ of rock was excavated and 22,009m³ of concrete were poured. The Naval Signals HQ at St Jacques in St Peter Port was the main communications centre. Turned Guernsey into a fortress.”. The Regelbau (standard build) system used books of plans for each of over 600 approved types of bunker and casemate, each having a specific purpose. Clearance in the wood along t… Several Strongpoint groups made a Verteidigungsbereich (Defence area)[23], Hohlgangsanlagen (cave passage installations) (Ho) were built to store vehicles, ammunition, food, fuel and equipment, Ho. machine gun posts, observation posts, battery locations, etc.) Huge World War Two bunker that Hitler built on Guernsey goes on sale for £155,000 and could be turned into a holiday let. Some of the OT supervisors were sadistic. Renovated positions are open to the public and some have been refitted and opened as museums. Wehrmacht defence works fell into three categories:[5], Festungspionierstab 19 (Fortress Engineer Staff 19) arrived in Guernsey in July 1941, to make plans for the construction works. neighbouring 600 miles of Normandy coastline. See more ideas about fortification, wwii, siegfried line. Guernsey, although the smallest of the two, was given special treatment and had 12,000 troops inland, that’s one German soldier for every two civilians. These employees were paid and provided with accommodation, better food, time off, leave[11]:42 and comforts. Its guns had a range of 23 kilometres (14 mi). The route from St Peter Port to St Saviour was modified to accommodate the towing of the Batterie Mirus gun pieces by four heavy Sd.Kfz. [4]:9 [18]:294, Machine guns protected within casemates, on top in Tobruk pits, or in trench systems, some with thin overhead protection. They therefore had a high level of skills and quickly worked out the details of what was needed.[3]:8. 4 tunnels at La Valette in St Peter Port, to hold 480 tons of fuel. The battery had its own Würzburg Dora radar position and command bunker. Guernsey had a major quarrying industry so had stone and crushing facilities available. Film Synopsis: Lily James plays free-spirited journalist Juliet Ashton, who forms a life-changing bond with the delightful and eccentric Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, when she decides to write about the book club they formed during the occupation of Guernsey in WWII.In cinemas April 20th. Many Russians were liberated by the British in Guernsey and Alderney. Whilst the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine had their roles in protecting the islands from the Allies, the occupying forces put their main effort into land defences aimed at repelling a seaborne or airborne assault. and tunnels were constructed, transforming the tiny archipelago into the most fortified place on earth. 8 half-tracks. Commanding Officer of the German garrison, Lieutenant-General Rudolf Graf von Schmettow, nephew of Gerd von Rundstedt commander of OB West (Commander-in-Chief West),[1]:195 ordered the writing of a 500-page book that described the fortifications in great detail, illustrated with maps, photographs and coloured drawings. During the Occupation, German troops went about fortifying Guernsey, building reinforced bunkers as well as adapting existing fortifications … Mines; 4). In these clips you see some of its famous fortifications including those built by the German occupations forces … [2], German engineers had in 1938 and 1939 improved the Westwall or Siegfried Line (the defensive line facing the French Maginot Line), using 500,000 OT workers. Tunnels are sealed or locked as they are especially dangerous. Mines, controled from the machine-gun nest; 9). Guernsey and the other Channel Islands were occupied by German Forces during the Second World War. The Germans found the Islands' fortifications antiquated and woefully inadequate for modern warfare. By 1941 the prospect of conquering Britain had decreased and the probability of an eastern war increased, requiring defences to be built to reduce the number and quality of troops required to defend the western ocean areas. [1]:204 The civilian population in Guernsey was 23,000. When it became clear that conquering Britain would be impossible, Hitler issued orders to convert the Channel Islands [7]:59–60, It was not just men that became OT workers; a number of women also found themselves in work camps. [16]:101 Naval Range-finding Tower MP 3 at Pleinmont, which has 5 observation levels and had a radar unit on the roof, has become a museum, open to the public. He ordered additional men to the Islands and, having decided the defences were inadequate, lacking tanks and coastal artillery, he instructed the Organisation Todt (OT) to undertake the building of 200-250 strongpoints in each of the larger islands. Rodney fired seventy-two 16-inch shells. Once the small tunnel was complete, it could be expanded, the width to 6–7 metres and height to 4–7 metres, this was the most dangerous job as rock falls were frequent.[3]:13–14. It comprised three bunkers: types V142, M172 and V192. The Channel Islands Occupation Society has refitted V142 as a museum.[16]:101. [5] There were over 200 standardised armour parts. By 13 June Hitler had made a decision. [17]:21, Mainly manned by Luftwaffe men of Flak Regiment 292, the multi purpose 8.8 cm Flak 36 were the main defence with a 7,500m effective range, located in six Island batteries and controlled by radar direction finding equipment, backed up by 150 cm searchlights. In total there were around 175 dedicated anti-aircraft guns in the island, plus machine guns on anti-aircraft mountings. Alderney was considered too well-protected against aircraft attack so HMS Rodney had the mission of shelling it. This example shows a bunker disguised as a house. [4]:30, Dummy positions were set up, including using logs to simulate guns and dummy minefields. eccentric Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, when she decides to write about the book club they formed A copy was destined for Hitler. Wire on low wooden poles; 8). Guernsey received two command tanks, 12 normal tanks, and five flame-throwing tanks.[16]:83. A command and an observation bunker completes the major fortifications. Artillery Regiment 319 was strengthened. The German designs incorporated certain standard features such as entrance door at right angles, armoured air intake, 30mm steel doors, ventilation, telephones,[4]:7 internal walls lined with wood, and an emergency exit. SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/c/VicStefanu - Let's visit the WW2 German fortifications of Guernsey. WW2 / The Occupation. The crew room and ammunition store was below each open gun placement. If they were from the Eastern Bloc, a deduction of 55% was made to pay for the cost of overseas reconstruction. Würzburg radar units, priority targets for the Allies, were disguised where possible. A Stützpunktgruppe (Strongpoint group) was a cluster of SP's and WN's under command of a Battalion. Service was compulsory in the militia for every man in the Island. OT gave Guernsey the code name Gustav. Ho. The Island had sand pits, away from the coastline that had had the salt washed out. From April to September 1943 shipments by sea to the Channel Islands averaged 20,000 tons per month. Some elements were stripped from the Westwall and Maginot Line,[1]:192 others manufactured specifically. A special partnership between a tour business and Festung Guernsey will give people the chance to take an in-depth look at some of the island's more hidden-away German fortifications. One example was a Mirus gun position; another was a 10.5 cm casemate at Houmet.[4]:25. After the Wehrmacht occupied the Channel Islands on 30 June 1940, they assessed the existing defences to determine if they would be of use. [7]:45 HQ and command bunkers were built for the Fortress Commander at La Corbinerie west of Ville au Roi, connected to one for the 319 Divisional commander. [17]:21, Anti-airborne landing obstacles were installed, many with explosives attached.[14]:179. 1,100 OT workers remained in Jersey in October 1943, of which 530 were Islanders. A colossal 8% of the entire Atlantic Wall’s concrete was poured into the Islands and they held more guns than the Twenty one of the casemates built into the coast were designed for 10.5 cm K 331(f) French guns that had been acquired in large quantities. Thousands of foreign prisoners and labourers were shipped to the Islands to complete the construction. A few plans were modified to suit the local terrain. Dugout with camouflage wire net; 13). Camouflage in the form of paint, sprayed concrete and straw on wire mesh, and timber constructions were common. Barges and small ships were brought to the Islands to transport materials to supplement the two ships run by OT. [12] Other sources of labor were Poland, French camps full of Spanish Republicans who had fled Spain after losing the civil war, and 1,018 out-of-work French North Africans from Algeria who were living in the south of France. U-boat and S-Boat facilities amounted to fuel tanks installed in Ho. 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