WN Archirondel
Details
Archirondel Tower is one of Twenty-three Conway towers built between 1778 and 1801. The tower was completed in 1794. Only Archirondel, Seymour and La Rocco Towers are built like this containing a gun battery at the foot of the tower. In the Second World War it was modified to form a resistance nest.
Numbers
One Officer, two NCOs and fifteen Other Ranks
German Record Details
1 x le.MG 34
1 x 5,2cm Gr.W. (r)
2 x s.MG 34
1 x Zwillingssockel
1 x 3,7cm KwK
1 x 7,5cm Pak
1 x m.Flammenwerfer
4 x Abwehrflammenwerfer 42
1 x 30cm Inf.-Scheinwerf.
Weapons and Equipment
One light Machine Gun 34
One 5.2cm Russian Mortar
Two light Machine Gun 34’s with one twin mount [for Machine Guns]
One 3.7cm French Puteaux gun mounted in a Renault FT 17 tank turret
One 7.5cm Anti-Tank gun casemated
Four defence flamethrowers
One 30cm infantry searchlight
Objective and Function (translated)
The Resistance Nest Archirondel has orders to prevent enemy landings in St Catherine’s Bay. Air landings in the proximity are to be engaged in fighting by counter attack. The Resistance Nest Archirondel engaged in fighting from the sea in St Catherine’s Bay against first and proximity middle removal. Work closely together with Strongpoint Victoria Tower and Resistance Nest Mole Verclut.
WW2 Maps & Documents
WW2 Aerial Photos
WW2 Photos
Recent Photos
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 612 612.
Jargon Help
Widerstandsnest (WN) = Resistance Nest (RN)
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
Jäger Casemate was a special design and name for bunkers designed to hold a 10.5cm field gun
Sources of Information
German Documents are housed at The National Archived in Washington or Archive in Kew UK
T-78 Roll 318
T-78 Roll 317
T-315 Roll 1639
T-315 Roll 1643
T-311 Roll 27
T-312 Roll 1545
AOK 7 War Diary
OKW War Diary
Operation Green Arrow - Occupation of the Channel Islands MOD 584
Allied Technical Intelligence Reports 1944-45
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 Seacoast Artillery Evaluation Board
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
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
If we have used any photos or information which you believe to posted without permission, please contact us at info@jerseywartours.com
