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Writer's picturePhil (JWT Admin)

The Road to Liberation - 5th February 1941



Good morning!

I am hoping to catch up on emails this weekend and have a few research projects to complete. There is a really interesting article about masks 80 years ago in the further afield section.

Have a fantastic day!

Cheers

Phil

 

80 years ago today in Jersey 5th February 1941


Today would be the 218th day of the Islands Occupation with 1,554 days remaining.


Reports suggest the Electricity supply will fail within a few days due to the lack of fuel for the power station. A new breakfast alternative is offered to locals.



 

Further afield

5th February 1941


The commonwealth graves commission record deaths 109 this day 80 years ago, the average age was 29.



RAF Action

The naval dockyard at Brest was attacked on four successive nights. The attack on the night of the 4th/5th February by 24 Wellingtons was particularly heavy, 23 tons of high explosive bombs and 600 incendiaries being dropped; results could not be accurately observed. Other targets attacked on the 4th/5th included the docks at Cherbourg, where several direct hits were scored on shipping and on the shipbuilding yard, the Merignac aerodrome near Bordeaux where bombs fell near the hangars, and the industrial area of Dusseldorf on which 24 Wellingtons dropped 17 tons of bombs and 1,600 incendiaries. Several aerodromes in occupied territory and the Channel ports were also effectively bombed during the week.


Below Spitfire, P7665 YT-L was shot down by Bf 109s at St Omer France. The Pilot Geoffrey Hill (below) survived and was taken as a POW (Camp 405 Colditz)


Atlantic

A/S Trawler Tourmaline sunk by aircraft off North Foreland. 19 survivors and 5 wounded.


Luftwaffe Action

On the last night of the week, 5th/6th February, 8 London Boroughs were bombed, but damage and casualties were slight. Outside London 2 paramines exploded at Bradwell, East Suffolk, causing serious damage to private property, but there were no casualties.


For the week ending 0600 on the 5th February, the approximate figures for the whole country are 130 killed and 303 injured. These figures include the London casualties of 72 killed and 226 injured.


UK Home Front

80 years ago today UK Ministry of Health asks for the wearing of masks in confined and crowded places to stop the spread of cold & infections

 

Occupation Focus


The cover of today's blog is the German Resistance Nest Sud Fort is found close to St Helier Harbour int he south of the island.


Weapons and Equipment

Two Light Machine Gun 34 Twelve 98k Rifles One 8cm Mortar One 311 (f) machine gun in a FT17 turret One 13.2mm sMG 254(f) One 60cm searchlight. One 8cm FK30(t)


As always, much more information on the blue link including exact location and map.

 

Book Recommendation


The February book recommendation is "Six Days." The story centres around the paratroopers of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division and the brave citizens of the quiet French hamlet. The battle of Grainges maybe not as well known as some of the invasion stories but this beautifully illustrated novel captures the true story.


 

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

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

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