Good Morning
Click the photo below or above link for dates and booking options for the WW2 boat tour. In the past two years, this tour has sold out fast so please book early to avoid disappointment. Worth remembering we are a non-profit and the money made from our tours is used to fund ongoing maintenance and projects supporting the education of WW2 history.
80 years ago today in Jersey 16th February 1941
Today would be the 231st day of the Islands Occupation with 1,543 days remaining.
A very quiet Sunday 80 years ago today with nothing recorded that we can find.
Further afield
16th February 1941
The commonwealth graves commission record 227 deaths this day 80 years ago, the average age was 29.
RAF Action
This past week 80 years ago Bomber Command flew 30 sorties by day and 283 by night (184 on the 15th/16th) and Coastal Command 6 by day and 33 by night.
Italy
On the night of the 16th the Sicilian aerodromes at Catania, Comiso and Gela were attacked by Wellingtons. They also machine-gunned the beacon station at Cape Passero. Buildings and hangars were hit at Catania and aircraft on the ground were left burning.
Atlantic
British minesweeping trawler HM Ormonde was sunk by German aircraft 25 miles east of Aberdeen, Scotland, killing 19.
Luftwaffe Action
Early in the morning of the 16th a dock pumping station was damaged in Chatham Dockyard. The Naval establishment at Skegness was bombed twice during the same morning, the second attack causing fairly extensive damage and a few casualties.
Four people were killed and one injured when German bombers dropped HEs at Seaham Harbour, demolishing four houses and damaging others. The slight outbreak of fire was extinguished and the bridge across the railway over Lord Street was destroyed and the road blocked. Men, women and children were trapped in a subway which collapsed when a bomb fell on it. The fatalities occurred in Frederick Street.
Occupation Focus
The cover of today's blog is the German Resistance Nest Victoria Pier found in St Helier at the Harbour.
At the end of Victoria Pier, there is a unique Type 631 Casemate for a 4.7cm Pak K36(t) with a MG37(t) machine-gun, it was combined with a bunker for an anti-aircraft 2cm Flakvierling (four barrelled gun). The Harbour control tower was built on the top of this post-war.
As always, much more information on the blue link, including the 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 be 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 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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