Good morning everyone
I am still working on the tunnel flooding and below is a photo from the live feed and the water levels thankfully are much more in control. We built live remote monitoring at all of our sites to increase security as well as performer simple tasks like turning on pumps and dehumidifiers when required. There was also time for a tidy of the workshop and 4 display guns serviced and cleaned.
Have a fantastic day!
thanks
Phil
Occupation Focus
Above (top) is the German Resistance Nest Archirondel Tower, 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. 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
As always, much more information on the blue link
80 years ago today in Jersey 19th January 1941
There are no diaries entries 80 years ago so below is a photo challenge on location. Can you identify where this was taken on Jersey, Could be St Ouen, but maybe the North. email info@jerseywartours.com and a prise for a correct now and then photo!
Further afield
19th January 1941
The Luftwaffe resumes its raids with an attack by 62 bombers on Southampton during the night. Another raid, during the day, targets RAF Feltwell. The RAF sends a few planes across to Paris for leaflet dropping.
Hitler and Mussolini agree that the Wehrmacht will not assist the Italians in Albania - at least not directly, or right away. Hitler tells Mussolini that, while the ground war, for now, remains in his hands, he will invade Greece at the first sign of danger to the vital Romanian oil fields. The safety of the oil fields remains a priority for Hitler throughout the war and informs many of his major - and most disastrous - decisions.
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
CIOS Archive & Publications (become a member here)
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
