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. The designs had been updated as captured enemy fortifications were examined; some were even tested to destruction for effectiveness. In September 1944 there were 10,980 troops in Guernsey comprising:[14]:52. 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. [4]:9 [18]:294, Machine guns protected within casemates, on top in Tobruk pits, or in trench systems, some with thin overhead protection. [16]:63 Army troops were rotated to Alderney for three month tours of duty. 319 ID provided the bulk of troops for the whole of the Channel Islands, it became the largest division in the German army. [1]:200, Consumable materials were sourced: cement, steel, timber for shuttering, sand and aggregate. Beginning in 2005 the "Friends of the Le Galloudec Shrine", in conjunction with the Guernsey Museum, have worked to restore the shrine. These bunkers were built on the route of the network of telephone cables linking all the major fortification sites on the island. The OT organisation designated the Channel Islands work area as Insel Einsatze.[10]:29. Five camps were built, however most OT workers went into requisitioned houses. [7]:19, Headquarters of the 7,000 strong OT in Guernsey was established at Sausmarez park in December 1941. Supervisors and OT labour was supplied to German construction companies, ten of which operated in the Channel Islands. Le Brun, December 2002. Guernsey has a wealth of historic fortifications and visitors to the island will find a fascinating variety from early neolithic works, to castles, forts and watch towers, the most recent built by the Germans during the Occupation from 1940 to 1945. Guernsey received a few tracked anti-tank guns, but relied more on guns such as the 3.7 cm Pak 35/36, fifteen 5 cm Pak 38, and eight 7.5 cm Pak 40. 10 Staggering Photos Of An Abandoned WWII Bunker Hiding In New Jersey. It was necessary to pour the concrete in as continuous operation as possible to avoid joints that would weaken the structure. Divisional engineers – mines and flamethrowers, Army Construction Battalions – reinforced constructions to provide protection of “Vf” Reinforced field-type constructions quality, Fortress Engineers and Fortress Construction Battalions – mounting heavy weapons, some tunnelling, reporting, maps, supervising. Today on my blog there is a guest post from Mr W, (Marcus), my other half, and my partner in crime on Fly Drive Explore. The battery was constructed from November 1941 and through the first half of 1942, it was the largest battery in the Channel Islands, the guns having a maximum range of 51km. 7/40 comprised 7,000m², 29,823 cu m of rock were removed and 9,053 cu m of concrete was poured. This video shows the World War 2 German tunnels which can be found easily in Guernsey. They therefore had a high level of skills and quickly worked out the details of what was needed.[3]:8. Two of the batteries were in casemates; three were in reinforced in field positions of earth and timber construction.[4]:59–60. 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. HQ at Mirus and other objects and a thanks to the other guys of Festung Guernsey
The gun is an original having been recovered from the foot of Jersey cliffs. It comprised three bunkers: types V142, M172 and V192. All of these were two stories, some were disguised as houses, with tiled roofs and painted windows. Artillery Regiment 319 was strengthened. Route Des Frances, St Saviour's, Guernsey, GY7 Agricultural fields measuring 11 Vergee and 31.49 perch (approximately 4.5 acres) in total located in St Saviour's enclosed by low earth banks.The fields are of good quality with a natural slope, well drained with two good vehicular accesses from the road. The Atlantic Wall (German: Atlantikwall) was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the western coast of Europe as a defense against an anticipated Allied invasion of the mainland continent from Great Britain. However, when multiple targets were visible, it was almost impossible to know which ship each tower was observing. 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. 1945 B. Snook L/Cpl R.E. Comprising 7,200 m2 of underground space and 30,000 m2 in buildings above ground, The Oppidum, near Prague, suitable for luxurious residential and/or secure commercial use. France is a curated survival map in Unturned 3, released on November 23, 2018. Volunteer and conscripted labour would receive much better treatment than would forced labour. This took the troops in Guernsey up to 12,000. 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. You can see and buy more of his
May. [17]:30, A small number of the obsolescent French Renault FT tanks were shipped in 1941 to the island. Dive Guernsey’s retail shop is curiously located in a bunker built by the Germans during the occupation of the island. The British built 15 Guernsey loophole towers at various points along the coast of Guernsey between August 1778 and March 1779 to deter possible French attacks after France had declared itself an ally of the American rebels in the American Revolutionary War.Towards the start of the Napoleonic Wars several towers received additional reinforcement in the form of batteries at their bases. R.E. Contributions were made by Henk Adriaanse in 2007 and Ad van der Weel in 2014. Metal strengthening bars were wired together and the wooden shuttering was installed. The Germans also took this fort during World War II and further added casemates and bunkers for additional protection. Not to scale. Three S 448a ammo bunkers are still present just like the commandbunker and several other bunkers. [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. [7]:31 The supply vessels needed escort and flak ships for protection. Sourcing of materials and transport had to be organised. The La Corbière headland formed the base for one of the strongest of the Infantry Strongpoints in Jersey carrying an impressive array of weaponry and boasting 6 fortifications built to 'Fortress' standard comprising of 2 meter thick reinforced concrete external walls and ceilings. Bunkers Open to the Public. Anti aircraft landing obstacles were erected in many parts of the Island to hinder any glider landings. Individual troops – field fortifications, slit trenches etc. Albert Speer replaced Todt. However, although a map is recommended, the direction of the path is easy to follow in most places. Other buildings used as headquarters included the Crown Hotel, which served as the Harbourmaster's office. [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. This maze of tunnels covers an area of about 6,950 square metres (75,000 square feet). The Guernsey section of the walk is 64 km (39 miles). From October 1941 and especially throughout 1942, building works moved ahead rapidly in hundreds of sites. They are only built on these Islands and Denmark. The island of Guernsey has been fortified for several thousand years, the number of defence locations and complexity of the defence increasing with time, manpower and the improvements in weapons and tactics. Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery is located a short but steep 15-minute walk from the Esplanade's roundabout up to St. Julian's Avenue. Anti landing craft objects of steel and wood, thousands of tetrahedra and Czech hedgehog, often with teller mines attached on the beaches.[19]. Whether the Islands were impregnable was never tested, except for Battery Blücher in Alderney. [6]:350 Each area in the Islands was examined and priorities for construction set. They are only built on these Islands and Denmark. Radio communication bunkers were built. [17]:21, Anti-airborne landing obstacles were installed, many with explosives attached.[14]:179. 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. Renovated positions are open to the public and some have been refitted and opened as museums. Fortress Engineer specialist sub-units such as Compressor, Mining, Rock Drilling, etc., would move between the Islands as required. Levels of manual labourers were treated like slaves Delight was shot down by Alderney on... 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