Phil (JWT Admin)
Jan 23, 20214 min
Good morning everyone
There is a busy weekend ahead, we are starting a new survey and the aim this weekend is to set up the framework for approval by the landowner and states. Breaks will be spent on working on the flood at the tunnel and then aim to clean 5 more guns.
Have a fantastic day!
thanks
Phil
It is reported to the locals that yesterday, 80 years ago, a German Junkers Ju 88A crashed at Jersey Airport due to pilot error on landing, the crew survive.
Two new German orders published concerning rationing (below)
Today would be the 207th day of the Islands Occupation with 1,567 days remaining.
German Junkers Ju 88A
Atlantic
Five Norwegian ships transport 25,000 tons of special steel products from Sweden to Britain, in a move called Operation Rubble. All five ships - vessels “Elizabeth Bakke”, “John Bakke”, “Tai Shan”, “Taurus”, and “Ranja” - make it through German-controlled water, to Royal Navy escort to Kirkwall, Scotland.
S.S. Langleegorse
She was bombed and sunk off the west coast of Ireland on a voyage from Durban to London with a cargo of maize with the loss of 37 lives
S.S. Lurigethan
She was also bombed and sunk off the west coast of Ireland, 15 crew members and one gunner were lost.
80 years ago today a sea mine was spotted on the beach at West Wemyss. It was in danger of being washed towards the village. Peter Graham, who was just 15, and four men from a nearby pit attempted to retrieve it but the mine exploded and they were all killed. The blast was so fierce it blew the windows out of the orangery at Wemyss Castle.
RAF Action
28 Wellingtons and 12 Blenheims Bombers sent to Düsseldorf. No losses.
The cover of today's blog is the German Resistance Nest Albert Pier is found at St Helier Harbour and well worth a walk around to spot all the traces from WW2. Also see the invasion page, as this is one of the placed bombed by the Germans in 1940.
Weapons and Equipment
One 3.7 Pak 35/36
Three 2cm Flak 38
One 60cm Searchlight
One MG 311(f)
One MG 15
Two 9mm MP40's
Nineteen 98k Rifles
As always, much more information on the blue link
The January book recommendation is "A Hero Among Millions."
A touching story by a son of a quiet hero/ survivor of World War II who happened to be the commander of Squadron 34 who operated in the Channel Island waters.
Exploring bunkers
Always get permission from the owner
Take a torch, a spare and one more for luck
Don't go alone & tell someone where you will be and for how long
You will get dirty as most are often full of rubbish and may have been used as a public toilet
Anything you find still belongs to the person that owns the property
Unexploded ordnance is still found in Jersey if you see or find anything that looks like ordnance please call the bomb disposal officer on 01534 612 61
Sources of Information
German Documents are housed at The National Archived in Washington or Archive in Kew UK
T-78 Roll 317: OKH Coastal and Channel Defenses Files 1940-44 -
T-78 Roll 318: OKH Coastal and Channel Defenses Files 1941-43
T-315 Roll 1639: 216th Security Division War Diary
(Kriegstagebuch), Belgium, France & Russia 1939-42
T-1022 Roll 2423: Various War Diaries (Kriegstagebucher), Channel Islands 1941-44
Atlantic Wall Coastal Battery Lists: Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, & France 1944-45
T-312 Roll 1559: 7th Army War Diary (Kriegstagebuch), France 1941-43 & T-312 Roll 1558
T-315 Roll 1643: 216th Security Division War Diary
(Kriegstagebuch), Belgium, France & Russia 1939-41
T-311 Roll 16: Army Group D War Diary (Kriegstagebuch), Western Front Aug-Nov 1944
Operation Green Arrow - Occupation of the Channel Islands MOD 584
Allied Technical Intelligence Reports 1942-45
German Preparations for Invasion of the United Kingdom 1941-42
B-833, 319th Infantry Division (1941-45)
German Seacoast Defenses, European Theatre - prepared by the Artillery Evaluation Board
BBC News & Archives
The Britannica
Jersey Occupied by Michael Ginns - ISBN 978-1-905095-29-2
Operation Nestegg Plans
Operation Hardtack Plans
Operation Basalt Plans
RAF Photos care of The National Collection of Aerial Photography
The National Archive of Newspapers
Bundesarchiv - Multiple Photos - and Files
A Map of slave labour camps. Kindly Provided by Emilio Pérez
Photo's and information provided by fans
Onsite visits & internet research
After the Battle Multiple Magazines
The Bomber Command War Diaries: An Operational Reference Book, 1939-1945
Jersey Heritage Archive
CIOS Archive & Publications (become a member here)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
American Battle Monuments Commission
If we have used any photos or information which you believe to posted without permission, please contact us at info@jerseywartours.com and we will resolve asap.
Jersey War Tours is Registered with the Jersey Financial Services Commission as a Non-Profit Organisation - NPO1207
Jargon Help
Widerstandsnest (WN) = Resistance Nest (RN)
A small pocket of resistance, these would be made up of small groups of up to 10 men with light weapons. They would man Anti-tank weapons, an observation post or a field gun.
Stützpunkt St.P = Strongpoint (STP)
Next level up from an RN and consisted of several RN's. STP areas would have a combination of weapons and different branches of the military used. Examples of this can be found with Strongpoint Greve de Lecq and Strongpoint Corbiere
Einsatzstellung = Operational Position or Action Post
Smaller MG type position generally it was only maned during an alert
Feldwache = Field Watch
Early resistance nest
Jägerstand
Jäger Casemate was a special design and name for bunkers designed to hold a 10.5cm field gun