Phil (JWT Admin)
Jan 25, 20214 min
Good morning everyone
The countdown to reopening has started and we hope to be operating again late next week. But it's fair to say that COVID has not stopped us working digitally and we will be continuing the online education sessions via zoom, twitch & TikTok and the blog is not going anywhere.
Have a fantastic day!
thanks
Phil
Milk shortage prompts the below appeal to producers.
Curfew altered again to 11 pm to 6 am (outside of the Mitirised zone.)
The first prosecution is recorded in the royal court for cyclists riding two abreast.
Today would be the 209th day of the Islands Occupation with 1,565 days remaining.
The commonwealth graves commission record 82 deaths this day 80 years ago, the average age was 23.
RAF Action
8 Blenheim Bombers sent to oil targets in Holland but turned back due to poor weather.
In the past week 80 years ago Fighter Command flew 155 patrols involving 351 sorties by day and one by night; hostile activity by day. was reduced and consisted of a total of 155 aircraft, of which 95 were engaged on reconnaissances. Raids by single aircraft were plotted during daylight in a number of widely separated districts. No interception by our fighters was effected, but two enemy aircraft were destroyed by anti-aircraft fife. On five nights no bombing occurred, but, 80 years ago tonight, German attacks were made on the South-Western Counties. The damage was done by Parachute Mines at St. Ives, Cornwall, and at St. Eval aerodrome, where some R.A.F. personnel were killed.
Released 80years ago today was an updated list of British Shipping Losses and cause.
The cover of today's blog is the German Resistance Nest L'Oeilliere which is found in St Ouens bay.
Weapons and Equipment
4.7cm Pak K36(t) attached with MG37(t) machine-gun
10.5cm K 311(f) in a Jäger type casemate
40cm Searchlight
One MG 311(f) in a Renault Tank-turret (FT17)
Five static flamethrowers
As always, much more information on the blue link and 3d tour below
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
Cabinet Papers Second World War memoranda (cab 661- cab 665)
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